http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/conservative-muslim-government-minister-forced-to-admit-shaking-hands-with-michelle-obama/story-e6frg6so-1225950760072
Conservative muslim government minister forced to admit shaking hands with
Michelle Obama
From: AP
November 10, 2010 10:03AM
First Lady Michelle Obama shakes hands with Indonesian Information Minister
Tifatul Sembiring upon arrival in Jakarta. Source: AP
A CONSERVATIVE Muslim government minister admits he shook hands with First Lady
Michelle Obama in welcoming her to Indonesia but says it wasn't his choice.
Footage on YouTube shows otherwise, sparking a debate that has lit up Facebook,
Twitter and the rest of the blogosphere.
"I tried to prevent (being touched) with my hands but Mrs Michelle held her
hands too far toward me (so) we touched,'' Information Minister Tifatul
Sembiring told tens of thousands of followers on Twitter.
While Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, the vast
majority practice a moderate form of the faith. But Mr Sembiring has flaunted
his conservatism and says he avoids contact with women who are not related to
him.
The minister was among the dignitaries in a receiving line that greeted
President Barack Obama and his wife as they arrived in Jakarta yesterday - a
homecoming of sorts for the president who spent part of his childhood here.
In footage of the official welcome, Mr Sembiring appeared to share his
countrymen's enthusiasm. He smiled broadly as he shook the president's hand and
then reached with both hands to grasp Michelle Obama's.
But later he said she forced their contact.
His denial was in a response to tweets from Indonesians who noted the handshake
and questioned his long-standing claims that, as a good Muslim, he restricts
his contact with women.
Many posts had a "gotchya'' quality to them.
One female journalist - who said the minister had refused to shake her hand -
gleefully noted that now he would no longer be able to wriggle out of it.
Mr Sembiring has often tweeted controversial comments, including blaming
natural disasters on a lack of morality and joking about AIDS.
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