By
PERRO D. SATTYRE, Dissociated Press Writer
The
recent refusal of Dixie Chicks lead vocalist Natalie Maines
(news
- web
sites) to wear a body-covering burqa, as required by
interpretations of radical Islamist law, has prompted outrage
from Shi'ite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (news
- web
sites). In a taped message aired repeatedly on Al-Jazeera,
al-Sadr blasted the singer's decision and threatened to
pull the plug on the upcoming LollaFallujah benefit concert.
Holding
a copy of Entertainment Weekly, on which the Chicks are
shown nude and covered with printed epithets, al-Sadr said,
"These vile creatures claim that they want to aid us
in our fight against the Americans and yet they insist on
parading their tainted uncovered flesh before us. We will
never allow their corruption to infect our ideals of Shi'ite
dominance."
Maines
disagreed. "We respect Mr. al-Sadr's views and endorse
his attacks on the evil American empire," she said.
"However, as we've explained repeatedly, we know what's
best for everyone else."
Several
noted celebrities had planned to participate in LollaFallujah,
an event designed to bolster the morale of dispirited terrorists
in Iraq. Show promoters last week announced that the event
would include musical performances by the Dixie Chicks,
The Pretenders, Sheryl Crow, Harry Belafonte and Barbra
Streisand; anti-Bush speeches by Martin Sheen, Susan Sarandon,
Tim Robbins and Sean Penn; socialist humor from Al Franken
and Janeane Garofalo; and three short films by Michael Moore
including his controversial "Dude, America Sucks!"
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