Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan apologises after his hijab rape remark sparks row

Karnataka Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan on Monday apologised over his remark where he compared rape cases in India is highest because some women don't wear hijab.

In a series of tweets, Zameer Ahmed Khan said, "I get anxious & scared to see increasing atrocities & rape on women in our country. Because of this state of our society, I said that at least with burqa-hijab, we may be able to prevent rapes. It was not intended to hurt or disrespect anyone. I regret it if it has hurt anyone."

"I believe our ancestors had mandated wearing burqa-hijab as a religious practice to protect women. My statement was based on this belief & there was no other reason," he added.

Earlier in the day, Zameer had refused to apologise, saying there is nothing wrong with what he had said. Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, he even accused the media of twisting his statement. Later, in a series of tweets, he said, "... I thought wearing burqa will prevent girls from getting raped.

Reacting to the ongoing row over hijab in Karnataka, Zameer Ahmed Khan had on Sunday said, "The concept of hijab is to keep girls, when they grow up, behind a 'purdah' [veil] to hide their beauty. Their beauty should not be visible. I think India has the highest number of rape cases in the world. It is because the women are not doing 'purdah'."

Zameer Ahmed Khan made the statements in response to Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's statement that hijab is not essential to Islam like turbans for Sikhs.

Zameer Ahmed Khan further said that clothes are definitely not the reason for rape. "There are incidents of rape irrespective of what clothes women wear. The actual reason is the rapist mindset of few men. It is the men who should change their mindset," he said in a tweet.

"My opinion is that education is the only thing that protects women. If for religious reasons, not wearing Hijab prevents them to access education, I would want them to first get educated at least by wearing it. They will then be able to protect themselves through education," he added.

Zameer Ahmed Khan requested the state government to not deny Muslim girls from education "just because they want to wear hijab".