Nilofar Bakhtiar, Pakistan’s Minister of Tourism, took part in a charity parachute jump in France last month to raise money for victims of the devastating earthquake that had occured in Pakistan in October, 2005.

Unfortunately, following the event, photos appeared in the Pakistan media showing Bakhtiar committing a “great sin” and Islamic clerics have demanded that she be fired. The fatwa issued by the clerics says, “Without any doubt, she has committed a great sin” and “an illegitimate and forbidden act”. The mosque’s chief cleric has gone so far as to threaten staging suicide attacks.

Just what horrible sin did Ms. Bakhtiar commit that would warrant calling for her dismissal and suicide attacks if she’s not fired? She hugged the male instructor who was assisting her during the charity parachute jump.

Holy shit! I can’t believe she’s getting off so lightly. Surely she should be stoned or beaten or have her vagina sewn shut or something. I’m outraged. I’m appalled. I’m… Oh, who the fuck am I kidding? I’m laughing my ass off, that’s what I’m doing.

Bakhtiar says the accusations are baseless and accused Pakistan newspapers of publishing “distorted” captions with the pictures. “It was just a pat because he felt so proud of me.”

The Pakistan government says it wants to resolve the situation through negotiations, but is concerned that a confrontation could lead to bloodshed. Bakhtiar’s friends and family are concerned for her safety and are praying that the clerics don’t find out about recent photos of her daughter wearing “hip huggers”.

In a related story, the Northeastern Loggers’ Association is calling for the dismissal of a logger who was photographed hugging a tree. They have threatened to stage, “suicide chainsaw attacks” if the man is not fired, although he claims he was just trying to estimate its diameter.

Share This