'Burka Woman,' Saad Haroon Music Video Send-Up Of 'Pretty Woman,' Slammed For Being Anti-Muslim (VIDEO)

A Pakistani comedian's music video send-up of the pop classic "Oh, Pretty Woman" is being slammed in the blogosphere as a mockery of Muslim values.

As the Telegraph reports, Saad Haroon's "Burka Woman" re-works Roy Orbison's signature 1964 tune as a serenade to an Islamic woman hidden beneath a black niqab with only her eyes visible, referring to her as both a "sexy ninja" and a "mystery prize."

In between scenes of the comedian in a white suit performing the tune with a live band, Haroon dances with a pair of burka-wearing women in and around a children's playground. "Burka woman, I love you still...c'mon and give me a thrill, show me your left nostril," the comedian sings, while suggesting he will go home and "practice with his living room curtain."

The clip has divided its YouTube audience since it was uploaded. "There is a right way and a wrong way to do things," wrote one viewer. "Obviously, making it a joke for the world to see is not a very productive method, that will only create further divisions and friction within Pakistan. Think long term!" Still, others reportedly are rallying in the comedian's favor. "This was so funny, I had tears running down my face," another person wrote. "Your belief system should not crumble just because someone sees humor in their own beliefs. Thanks for this brilliant bit of social satire!"

For his part, Haroon has shrugged off most of the criticism. "Everyone has a right to say what they want," he told the Telegraph. "The crazies always shout loudest, but I've also had positive comments from women in burkas who have come up to me after shows, saying how funny they found it."

Watch "Burka Woman" here:

Comments

[chino66]

07:52 AM on 12/28/2010

How long before a fatwa is issued calling for his death, and then going into hiding like Salman Rushdie did?

[santiago sherwood]

07:28 PM on 12/27/2010

great to make fun of the burka

[GeniusForHire]

06:14 PM on 12/27/2010

I like how they have juxtaposed a centuries old woman-as-property mechanism with modern day texting.

[Milhouse901]

04:23 PM on 12/27/2010

"show me your left nostril" that is funny!

[SiameseTrainer]

09:13 PM on 12/26/2010

All religion is, in the final analysis, a joke. Helping people laugh at an omnipresent, omnipotent, anything is a sure-fire way of curing them of it.

[AmigaMan]

05:15 PM on 12/26/2010

More love from The Religion Of Peace™...

[amanofmanyfaucets]

04:01 PM on 12/26/2010

I mock many of the "values" of islam. I mock its misogynist values. I mock the idea of a non-secular islamic state. I mock its medieval rejection of reality. These things are perceived to be part of islam. I mock them.

Since islam is an idea then if those who identify themselves as islamic say this is part of islam then it is. Islam needs to make up its mind as to what is and isn't part of islam.

[Artboyz]

01:42 PM on 12/29/2010

If Islam is an idea, how does it make up its mind? Just wondering. Covering women was an middle eastern practice long before Islam came along.

[KeithH1]

02:09 PM on 12/26/2010

I can't believe that a satirical song is news. This is how pathetic and fascist the world has become.

[b1rd67]

10:48 AM on 12/27/2010

Really.... an article on a viral YouTube video is an indication that the world has become facist? Ok then, define facism and explain how reporting on this video fits that definition.

[Atif Ahmed Choudhury]

02:10 AM on 12/26/2010

making fun of the burqa/niqab does NOT=making fun of Islam...the burqa/niqab are simply cultural manifestations of both the hijab as well as the general Islamic exhortation for modesty (which applies to both female AND male believers)

[rlcapps]

07:07 PM on 12/25/2010

It's a religion that believes women should dress like ninjas or they should be stoned to death. How can anyone find something to parody within those parameters?

[season555]

11:19 AM on 12/27/2010

you know so little

[Milhouse901]

04:21 PM on 12/27/2010

very very little!

[rlcapps]

02:56 PM on 12/28/2010

I'm sorry if you actually think I believe that muslims make women dress like ninjas or that the quran states you should stone them to death if they don't. Sarcasm is hard to type. I didn't get anymore replies so I'm guessing everyone else realized I was not serious or just doesn't care about me. Just to assure you I'd like to tell you that I know that burqas most likely predate ninjas and that ninjas rarely dressed in all black anyway. They usually dressed as inconspicuous as possible so as not to alert enemies, usually like a farmer or something normal. I also know that the quran does not in any way order women to wear burqas at all. I know (bang) plenty of muslim women and they do not wear burqas. I'm sorry I'm not as dumb as you hoped. If it's any consolation I am still very dumb.

[steviez]

03:40 PM on 12/25/2010

There is hope for Pakistan!

[darthmaul]

11:47 AM on 12/25/2010

"I'll practice flirtin with my living room curtain." I thought it was funny, but then I won't have to be looking over my shoulder or the next couple of years. I hope this guy will be OK.

[amygdalalama]

12:34 AM on 12/25/2010

That was hysterical!

[kasukabe]

11:57 PM on 12/24/2010

I'm waiting for the lunatic far-leftists to come on and accuse this Muslim of Islamophobia for simply having a sense of humor.

[longnow]

09:33 AM on 12/26/2010

No, you won't even find that on the far far left
which is everyone that disagrees with you and
Fox "News". The left does have a few
outlier know-nothings as opposed to the mainstream
right who are primarily liar4hire know-nothings.
How to describe the far right? You know, the
convert or die types who can't wait for the end times
& the rapture b/c they've already been left behind.

[SiameseTrainer]

09:09 PM on 12/26/2010

Perhaps you do not really know your enemy as well as you think you do.

[kenhamlett]

04:51 PM on 12/24/2010

The song is pretty lame. But, I am equally sick of the intolerance of Muslims toward anything that does not conform to their version of their religion. I respect Islam and those who practice it. But, they need to start doing the same thing with respect to other religions -- not to mention those who do not practice any religion. We should respect their practices, and they should stop trying to make rules for others.

[Nigel Humphries]

07:45 PM on 12/25/2010

I'm equally sick of individuals who write about "Muslims" as if every single one of them thought the same way. "They" don't need your advice.

[kenhamlett]

08:35 PM on 12/25/2010

I have many friends who are Muslims, so I know that they do not all think the same way. But, their religion has many of the intolerances of other religions, and I have the right to criticize it if I want -- it is one of the benefits of being an American. The main difference that Muslims need to understand is that all our religions -- as well as those who have no religion -- can be criticized, and so can theirs. Islam does not contain a special provision that causes it to be exempt from criticism.

[rigormrtis]

01:26 AM on 12/27/2010

Unlike liberals who think every republican is a clone of the next.