Sahil Adeem, a scholar and motivational speaker, has come under fire for remarks made during a television appearance last month, where he labeled a significant majority of women in the country as religiously ignorant. The comments, made on Ayesha Jahanzeb’s show on Sama TV, sparked widespread controversy after going viral on social media.
During the show, which aired in the final week of June, Sahil Adeem asserted that 95% of women in the nation were ignorant about religious matters, compared to 25% of men. The segment quickly spread across various platforms, drawing considerable criticism towards Sahil Adeem.
In a recent interview with GNN, Sahil Adeem sought to clarify his statements, explaining that the episode was unscripted and that many participants, including a woman who challenged his views, were channel employees. He expressed surprise at the clip’s viral nature, noting that other significant points he made during the discussion did not receive the same attention.
Sahil Adeem also mentioned that he had deleted some clips from the program, unaware that his controversial remarks would capture such widespread attention. He interpreted the virality of the clip as indicative of the nation’s lack of awareness and readiness to engage with religious discussions seriously.
Furthermore, Sahil Adeem commented on the dynamics of the debate, suggesting that having a female interlocutor was preferable. He believed that a male counterpart might not have maintained composure, which could have escalated the tension during the live broadcast.
He emphasized that his use of the term ignorant was specifically in the context of religious knowledge and did not intend to generalize about women’s intelligence or capability in other fields.
The backlash and subsequent clarification by Sahil Adeem highlight ongoing tensions and sensitivities surrounding discussions of gender and education in religious contexts, reflecting broader societal debates about these issues.