Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been removed from his position as an ambassador for King Charles’ British Asian Trust. This decision comes after a video went viral, showing him assaulting a student.
A video that emerged online earlier this month showed Khan repeatedly slapping a man with his shoe in a fit of anger. The footage sparked widespread condemnation, with internet users expressing their disapproval of the singer’s actions.
According to a spokesperson of the Trust, as cited by Dawn through Geo News, any form of violence is vehemently condemned, regardless of the situation.The spokesperson also confirmed that the Trust has severed all ties with Khan due to their strict policy against abusive behavior.
In 2017, Khan was appointed as an ambassador for the British Asian Trust, an announcement personally made by Prince Charles. However, following the backlash, the singer released a clarification video on social media. Accompanying him in the video was the individual involved in the altercation, identified as Khan’s student.
In the video, Khan asserted that the dispute emerged from a “personal issue” and denied claims that the bottle involved contained alcohol. He explained it as “holy water” blessed by a religious cleric. Khan justified his actions as disciplinary measures in response to the student’s purported misbehavior, emphasising the dynamics of the relationship between a teacher and student.
The student affirmed Khan’s explanation, labeling the video leak as an effort to spread his teacher’s reputation. Furthermore, the student’s father joined the discussion, defending the traditional teacher-student relationship that is prominent in the Qawwali field.
A video that emerged online earlier this month showed Khan repeatedly slapping a man with his shoe in a fit of anger. The footage sparked widespread condemnation, with internet users expressing their disapproval of the singer’s actions.
According to a spokesperson of the Trust, as cited by Dawn through Geo News, any form of violence is vehemently condemned, regardless of the situation.The spokesperson also confirmed that the Trust has severed all ties with Khan due to their strict policy against abusive behavior.
In 2017, Khan was appointed as an ambassador for the British Asian Trust, an announcement personally made by Prince Charles. However, following the backlash, the singer released a clarification video on social media. Accompanying him in the video was the individual involved in the altercation, identified as Khan’s student.
In the video, Khan asserted that the dispute emerged from a “personal issue” and denied claims that the bottle involved contained alcohol. He explained it as “holy water” blessed by a religious cleric. Khan justified his actions as disciplinary measures in response to the student’s purported misbehavior, emphasising the dynamics of the relationship between a teacher and student.
The student affirmed Khan’s explanation, labeling the video leak as an effort to spread his teacher’s reputation. Furthermore, the student’s father joined the discussion, defending the traditional teacher-student relationship that is prominent in the Qawwali field.
