India's Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi has said that any woman who has sex outside marriage should be hanged, including rape victims.
According to a report published in Mid-Day, Azmi said, "Rape is punishable by hanging in Islam. But here, nothing happens to women, only to men. Even the woman is guilty."
The Samajwadi Party leader further added, "In India, if you have sex with a person with consent, it's fine. But if that same person complains, it's a problem.
"Nowadays, we see a lot of such cases. Girls complain when someone touches them, and even when someone doesn't touch them. It becomes a problem then, and the man's honour is ruined in this.
"If rape happens with or without consent, it should be punished as prescribed in Islam."
When asked for a solution to the problem of rape, Azmi said, "Solution is this: any woman if, whether married or unmarried, goes along with a man, with or without her consent, should be hanged. Both should be hanged. It shouldn't be allowed even if a woman goes by consent."
On Tuesday Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav sparked controversy with his comments on rape.
Addressing a rally in Moradabad, Mulayam said, "rape accused should not be hanged. Men make mistakes."
When Azmi was asked to comment on Mulayam's remark, he said, "What context has he spoken in? Sometimes, the wrong people go to the gallows. Josh mein ladke aisa kar jaate hai. I won't speak against Islam."
Mulayam's comments evoked strong reactions with other parties slamming him for his insensitive comments.
"We condemn Mulayam Singh's statement. There should be zero tolerance for rape and crime against women," the Congress said.
Slamming Mulayam's statement, Kiran Bedi said, "This statement is not just against women, it is against the society. They should be punished with no votes."
SOURCE