A religious leader in Pakistan has issued a fatwa or religious opinion condemning President Asif Ali Zardari for flirting with the U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate during a meeting.

The fatwa of cleric Maulana Abdul Ghafar, a prayer leader at radical mosque Lal Masjid in Islamabad, branded as indecent, un-Islamic and unbecoming of a head of state Zardari's gesture to Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) while shaking hands with her at the United Nations headquarters last week.

The president told Palin while photographers took their photos that if his aide insists, "I might hug you."

Zardari, the widower of assassinated former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto, also described Palin as "gorgeous" but the compliments drew criticisms from the local press and women's groups.

The fatwa did not call for any action or violence.