Who ever thought they’d live to see the day when both Pakistani feminists and that country’s hardcore Islamic clergy actually agreed on something? But that’s precisely what’s happened following President Asif Ali Zardari’s flirtatious comments to Sarah Palin.
A radical Muslim prayer leader said the president shamed the nation for “indecent gestures, filthy remarks, and repeated praise of a non-Muslim lady wearing a short skirt.”
Feminists charged that once again a male Pakistani leader has embarrassed the country with sexist remarks.
No, it wasn’t simply that he called her “gorgeous” at the UN meet-and-greet last week. Nor was it because he said, “Now I know why the whole of America is crazy about you.” What actually led the leaders of Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad to issue a fatwa on Zardari was his statement to his handler that he’d be happy to hug Palin.
Fortunately for Zardari, the fatwa doesn’t recommend violence, or even any other action. To bring that down on his head, I guess Zardi would’ve had to ask Palin if she wanted to see his moose gun.
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008, 12:59 pm | 
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October 2, 2008 at 7:21 pm