Khawaja Asif clarifies remarks after social media exchange with Jemima Goldsmith

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Imran Khan, engaged in a social media exchange on X regarding Jewish religious traditions and matrilineal descent.

Asif posted about the mainstream Jewish principle that identity is determined by the mother. He noted that this tradition was established historically because maternity was biologically certain while paternity was considered a matter of chance before the advent of DNA testing.

Goldsmith responded by stating that while the principle was correct, it meant she had never been considered Jewish by the Jewish community, as her mother was a Protestant from the Church of England and her paternal grandmother was French Catholic. She accused Asif of attempting to undermine her sons.

Asif subsequently clarified his remarks, stating he was merely sharing an “interesting, rational religious principle” and had no intention of targeting any specific individual or family. He emphasized his respect for all “People of the Book,” noting that such respect is a core teaching of Islam.