MUMBAI: SP’s state president Abu Azmi is attracting angry criticism for his statements about rape survivors. The MLA told a city tabloid on Friday: “If a woman is caught (in a rape case), then both she and the boy should be punished. In India, there is death penalty for rape, but when there’s consensual sex outside marriage, there’s no death penalty against women.”

The barbs flew in thick and fast. Among the first to react were Azmi’s son Farhan, who is contesting from Mumbai North-Central. “I don’t agree with my father’s views on rape. Rape is a heinous crime and a rapist should be hanged. I offer myself to be jallad (executioner) without a fee to hang rapists. I have five sisters, my wife and mother in my family and I have always valued the rights of women,” Farhan told TOI.

His wife, actor Ayesha Takia Azmi, too slammed her father-in-law. Tweeting from her handle @Ayeshatakia, she said: “If what I am reading about my father-in-law’s statements are true then me and Farhan are deeply embarrassed n ashamed. We surely do not share this mindset...its disrespectful to women. if these statements r true then its sad (sic).”

Farhan urged the SP leaders to apologize for their hurtful remarks. “An apology will certainly not hurt. Taking the higher ground will only impress the people of India,” he tweeted from @abufarhanazmi.

Noorjahan Safia Niyaz, founding member of Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, a women’s advocacy group, said that Azmi should be punished for his anti-women remarks. “Women suffer in a rape and he wants to punish the victims too. This is an atrocious and condemnable comment. He should be penalized.” Haseena Khan of Awaz-e-Niswan, another women’s rights group, said: “Statements by both Mulayam Singh and Abu Azmi are condemnable and such leaders should be opposed.”

Sensing the outrage his remarks had created, Azmi clarified that his comments were not in the context of the Shakti Mills rape case. “I never said that the photojournalist who was raped at the Shakti Mills should be hanged too. Here, she was not the culprit, but in many cases where sex happens by consent and then the girl complains of rape, both men and women should be punished,” Azmi said.

The Maharashtra State Women Commission issued a suo motu showcause notice to the SP leader, asking him to appear for a hearing on April 24 at 11am. The commission’s chairperson Susiben Shah said: “Action will be taken against him if he is found to have made false and offensive statements against women. According to the commission, it is the woman who is the victim in rape cases . Azmi’s statement is shameful.”

