New Delhi: A Pakistani YouTuber’s lesson in consent to a man trying to forcibly make her wear a shawl is now viral on social media.
Shaila Khan was doing her job when a man decided to tell her the ‘right thing’ to do in an Islamic country. Not only did the YouTuber immediately put him in place, she also taught him a lesson on consent.
Khan was on the streets interviewing people on their opinion on the Iran-Israel conflict and its implications for Pakistan when the incident took place. A man she was talking to took off his shawl and put it on her head reminding her that this is an Islamic country and she should follow Allah’s orders.
“You are standing in front of me in an Islamic country, without covering your head,” he says as he goes on to cover her head with a cloth.
Shaila immediately removed it and countered him with a pertinent question: “O bhai, tum logon ka Islam dupatte se kyun shuru ho ke dupatte par kyon khatam ho jaata hai?” (Brother, why does your Islam begin and end at a dupatta?)
She further tells him that the bigger sin was that he had touched her without her permission. “Is this what Islam teaches you,” she asked.
In a heartening gesture, another woman, whose head was covered with a shawl, interjects and gives the man a lesson on consent.
“Whether she wears a cover or not, is something for her to decide. Not you,” she says.
However, the conversation also took a hilarious turn when the woman misunderstood a question Khan asked on whether men or women commit more crimes in Pakistan. “Women, because they are more passionate,” the woman says, to applause from the men who had crowded around them.
But she changes the answer once Khan explains the question her. “Men do more crime,” she says.
Khan turns back to the man and tells him that the “defect” in his thinking comes from his teachings. “I learnt from madrasas,” he responds.
Sharing the video on X, a user asked: Is this the future of Pakistan?
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Who is Shaila Khan?
Shaila Khan is a popular YouTuber with around 6 lakh followers, who often speaks in support of India. One of her videos shows her celebrating the Indian Republic Day on the Wagah border.
She has also made videos in support of CAA, Prime Minister Modi and Ram Navami.
While most across social media supported her, others call her antics a PR stunt.
“This is all a stunt. This girl is a YouTuber and does such tricks to gain views. All staged,” wrote Express Tribune columnist Durdana Bhat.
However, one user commended her for being a bold journalist, while another wrote “He’s a stupid, obnoxious bigot. Glad she put him in place.”
And as with any viral moment in Pakistan, Imran Khan made an appearance.
One user compared the man in the video to Imran Khan. The former PM once said ‘women wearing few clothes impact men’ and used it to explain the rising rates of sexual violence.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)