Not Muslim

In the article “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” (Dec. 23), The Times’ writer Kim Murphy describes a Christmas Eve she spent in Cairo with an “occasionally devout Muslim” named Khalid. Well, she must have caught him during one of his least devout periods. He not only spent time alone with her in her apartment (they being neither in a state of blood relationship or marriage), but he drank champagne, possessed a good luck charm and sang “Silent Night” with her. If Kim Murphy thinks that these are the actions of an “occasionally devout Muslim,” I think The Times would be best served by transferring her to another area of the world having a culture she understands.

MUSTAFA NOVIKOFF

Desert Hot Springs