On the face of it there is nothing to link the death of the Pakistani governor of Punjab, Salman Taseer, and the shooting of Democrat Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona. But there is.
In each case both politicians stood up for one thing: Debate. It’s too early to know the motivations of Giffords shooter, but Taseer's killer had already said he was defending Islam.
Both incidents have one thing in common. Taseer and Giffords put unpopular subjects on the table.
Taseer wanted a reasonable discourse on Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Giffords wanted immigration to be talked about in a reasoned manner.
Taseer faced incredible criticism for his words by Pakistan's religious right wing. He was rubbished by some TV anchors, one man offered a reward for his death, others demanded he be stripped of his post.
Giffords was also incredibly unpopular with the right wing in the United States.
![[QODLink]](http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images/2012/5/24/2012524105149565734_16.jpg "The Brotherhood and Mubarak")
