Jamaat-e-Islami chief X deletes post calling women’s public life ‘prostitution’, backlash erupts

Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman waves to his supporters during a rally as he begins campaigning ahead of the upcoming national elections, in Mirpur on January 22, 2026. (Photo by Salahuddin Ahmed / AFP)

Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami faced backlash after its chief’s deleted post likened women’s public roles to “prostitution.” Despite claims of hacking and clarifications supporting women’s rights, critics remain skeptical of the party’s stance on gender issues.

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Bangladesh’s Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami found itself on the defensive on Sunday after its chief Shafiqur Rahman deleted a controversial social media post that triggered widespread outrage over its remarks on women and public life.

The post, shared from Rahman’s verified account on X on Saturday, claimed that when women are pushed out of the home in the name of modernity, they are exposed to exploitation, moral degradation and insecurity, describing this as “another form of prostitution". Screenshots of the post spread rapidly online before it was removed, fuelling criticism across political and civil society circles.

The remarks were widely condemned for portraying women’s participation in education, work and leadership as morally corrupting and for echoing deeply regressive views on women’s role in society. Critics said the post reinforced fears about Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideological position at a time when Bangladesh is already witnessing intense political churn.

Damage control after backlash

Facing mounting criticism, Rahman issued a clarification on Sunday, distancing himself from the post. He claimed the viral content was “false and misleading" and said it did not reflect either his views or the party’s official position.

“Our manifesto has been clear from day one. We want women active and respected in education, healthcare, administration, entrepreneurship and public service," Rahman wrote in a post on X.

He went on to list a series of pledges, including support for uninterrupted education for “girls, safe campuses, zero tolerance for harassment, women-centred healthcare, equal pay, safe workplaces, childcare support and skills for dignified work."

Attempting to project consistency, Rahman said these positions had been articulated months earlier, including at a policy summit on January 20. “Judge me by my record and manifesto, not false narratives. On 3 February, I will launch the full manifesto. A Bangladesh that respects women is a Bangladesh that moves forward," he added.

Party blames hacking, critics remain unconvinced

Jamaat-e-Islami later claimed Rahman’s account had been hacked. In an official statement, party Assistant Secretary General and head of its publicity and media department, Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, said cyber attackers had briefly taken control of the account and posted the controversial message.

He insisted the post did not represent Rahman’s views or the party’s ideology and described it as “completely false and misleading." According to Zubair, the party’s cyber team regained control of the account within a short time and secured other platforms.

The party also issued a warning, saying, “Spreading false information, committing identity forgery, and creating and disseminating distorted content are punishable by law and morally reprehensible. Such activities harm the democratic environment."

A credibility problem

Despite the clarification and hacking claim, the episode has deepened scepticism about Jamaat-e-Islami’s stance on women’s rights. Critics argue that the language used in the deleted post aligns too closely with the party’s long-standing ideological positions to be dismissed as a cyber incident.

The controversy has reinforced concerns that beneath attempts at moderation and rebranding, hardline views continue to shape Jamaat’s worldview, especially on gender and social freedoms.