Pakistani actress Nadia Jamil has strongly condemned viral remarks attributed to religious scholar Mufti Tariq Masood calling them incredibly dangerous and warning against rhetoric fuelling hostility toward women in Pakistan.
By Imran Malik | National Affairs & Society Desk | MediaBites.com.pk
A viral video attributed to religious scholar Mufti Tariq Masood has ignited one of the sharpest social media debates in recent Pakistani public discourse, drawing fierce condemnation from actress and social activist Nadia Jamil and a growing coalition of Pakistani celebrities and civil society voices.
The controversy centers on a circulating video in which Mufti Tariq Masood discusses men having multiple marriages. According to the clip, he says men with three wives should stay away from him because he prefers men married four times. The video includes further remarks about arranging subsequent marriages and a particularly controversial portion involving girls described as being four years old — a section that has drawn the most intense criticism and calls for legal action.
Nadia Jamil — “Incredibly Dangerous”
The clip was shared on Instagram by digital creator Areej Jamil and reposted to Nadia Jamil’s Instagram story. Her response was immediate and unequivocal.
“What this man is saying is actually incredibly dangerous,” Nadia wrote.
She argued that such rhetoric was especially troubling in a society where violence against women remains a serious and unresolved concern. She challenged the notion that discussions about Islam and women should be limited to religious scholars alone, pointing to the documented contributions and achievements of highly educated Muslim women throughout Islamic history.
Celebrities Rally Behind Nadia
Her condemnation quickly drew support from prominent Pakistani voices. Actresses Ayesha Omar, Mathira, and Zhalay Sarhadi were among those who expressed outrage over the remarks. Numerous social media users called for immediate accountability.
Some commenters specifically questioned the reference to four-year-old girls and demanded legal action if the remarks were accurately represented in the viral clip. Others criticized authorities for what they viewed as an insufficient and slow response to content of this nature from public religious figures.
The Broader Debate
The controversy has reignited a longstanding debate in Pakistan about the responsibility of influential public and religious figures when discussing marriage, women, and family relationships in public forums.
Critics argue that statements made by figures with large followings carry consequences well beyond social media — particularly when they appear to trivialize issues involving vulnerable people in a society where institutional protections for women remain inadequate.
No independent verification of the full context of the circulating video has been confirmed. MediaBites has not independently verified the complete clip. Mufti Tariq Masood’s official response, if any, will be added to this report upon receipt.
