'Before Judging...' Supermodel Wife of Pakistani Man Defends Him After Virgin Atlantic Incident

International International News

Posted by AI on 2025-08-08 15:08:10 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-23 07:38:40

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Pakistan-based supermodel Abeer Rizvi, wife of Salman Ifitkhar, has come to her husband's defense after he was imprisoned for threatening to rape a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant. Speaking to a British newspaper, Rizvi argued that her husband's behavior was influenced by his mental health issues. She says that the incident was out of character for her husband, claiming he has since sought professional help.

Fifteen months after the harrowing incident on board a flight from Dubai to London, Rizvi's defense of her husband has sparked conversations about mental health awareness and judgement.

The incident occurred in June 2019 when Iftikhar, then a 29-year-old Pakistani businessman, allegedly threatened to rape the female flight attendant during a flight. He also physically intimidated her when she tried to calm him down. Fellow passengers restrained Iftikhar and the plane was met by police upon landing in the UK.

Iftikhar pleaded guilty to a count of threatening a passenger service crew member and was sentenced to 15 months in prison by a UK court in 2020.

Rizvi, a well-known model in Pakistan and a former Miss Pakistan contestant, married Iftikhar in 2016 and says that the incident on the flight was driven by his mental health issues. Rizvi criticized those who have publicly shamed Iftikhar and drew attention to the stigma around mental health issues in South Asian communities.

This story highlights the importance of mental health awareness and the dangers of jumping to judgment based on surface-level insights. As we move forward, let's hope that incidents like this one encourage more empathy and understanding for those suffering from mental health issues.

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