http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/muslim-mp-tifatul-sembiring-admits-awkward-handshake-with-michelle-obama-in-indonesia/story-fn3dxity-1225950724227
Muslim MP Tifatul Sembiring admits awkward handshake with Michelle Obama in
Indonesia
* From correspondents in Jakarta, Indonesia
* From: AP
* November 10, 2010 9:28AM
A CONSERVATIVE Muslim Government Minister admits he shook hands with US 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 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.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Related Coverage
* Obama reaches out to Muslims Herald Sun, 6 hours ago
* Muslim MP regrets shaking Michelle's hand The Australian, 13 hours ago
* Obama 'joined Muslim prayers at school' The Australian, 2 days ago
* Obama drops Australia visit Adelaide Now, 23 Sep 2010
* Mosque plan, timing fan flames The Australian, 10 Sep 2010
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Indonesians gathered around television sets across the country to watch the
American president touch down. Children at the school he attended practised a
song dedicated to him just in case he visited.
In footage of the official welcome, 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.
Sembiring has often tweeted controversial comments, including blaming natural
disasters on a lack of morality and joking about AIDS.
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