Tunisia's mufti slammed for 'sexist handshake'

Mufti Hamda Said has refused to shake hands with Tunisair CEO Sara Rajab. Many Tunisians have condemned the move as offensive to women.

MENA

1 min read

Nada Ramadan

10 August, 2015

Tunisia's Mufti was criticised after refusing to shake hands with a female official [Assabah]

Tunisia's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Hamda Said, has been criticised for "sexist behaviour" after he refused to shake hands with a female official on Saturday.

Said was at a visit to a Tunisair office to supervise bookings for the annual hajj season - which begins in September - when he met the airline's CEO, Sara Rajab.

She attempted to shake the mufti's hand, but according to the religious leader refused the greeting.

Met with Rajab's insistence on a handshake, the mufti eventually wrapped his hand in his shirt to avoid touching the CEO.

On social media, many people criticised the mufti's behaviour, considering it sexist and offensive to women.

Others supported him, quoting the Prophet Mohammad who was said to have found touching between men and women who are unrelated, unacceptable.