Haifa Wehbe asks to join Gaza flotilla

Hizbullah concerned pop star's "nudity" may affect female activists.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
haifa wehbe 311 (photo credit: AP)
haifa wehbe 311
(photo credit: AP)
Lebanese model and pop star Haifa Wehbe was banned by Hizbullah from boarding a female-only ship headed for Gaza, Kuwaiti daily Al-Seyassah reported on Friday.
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Wehbe reportedly appealed to the leadership of the Islamist terrorist movement and political party and requested to join the Lebanese women who have signed up as passengers on the aid ship Mariam, which will sail to Gaza in the coming days.
The trip was organized by the Free Palestine movement in conjunction with Samar Hajj, whose husband Ali Hajj has been in jail for four years in connection with the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
According to the Kuwaiti paper, Hajj was told yesterday by Hizbullah leaders that Wehbe would have to be prevented from taking part in the journey on grounds that her “nudity … and immodest dress will harm the reputation of all women participating in the trip.”
The leaders further noted that the ever-popular Wehbe’s presence was likely to “divert attention from the main objective of the trip.”
Later on Friday, Hizbullah denied it was involved in preparations for the trip, saying the group had "decided from the very beginning to stay away from this humanitarian act in terms of organisation, logistic support and participation so as not to give the Israeli enemy any pretext to attack the participants."
Earlier this week, Hajj declared that the female activists were “all independent women who believe in breaking the siege on Gaza.” She added that “This has nothing to do with Hizbullah, although it is an honor for us to be supporters of the resistance.”