The British Asian Trust, founded by King Charles III, has terminated its association with singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. This decision follows a controversial video of Khan assaulting a person he identified as his student.
A spokesperson for the trust confirmed the decision, citing a zero-tolerance policy toward abusive behavior and emphasizing its commitment to addressing any allegations of abuse promptly.
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Khan, appointed as an ambassador for the trust in 2017, appeared in a covertly recorded video assaulting a man. He claimed the man was his student, and the altercation involved a bottle of spiritually blessed water.
Following the video’s release, Khan stated that the incident was an internal matter between him and his student. He described the teacher-student relationship as one involving both affection and punishment.
The student Naveed Hasnain defended Khan, attributing the incident to a misunderstanding about the location of the blessed water. He denied any abuse and labeled the video an attempt at defamation.
Khan admitted to seeking Hasnain’s forgiveness immediately after the incident but did not issue a public apology on video.