Al Baradei has a right to be upset

Egyptian Nobel laureate and potential presidential candidate Mohammad Al Baradei has every right to be upset. Pictures of his daughter in a swimming suit have been splashed all over the internet. Al Baradei, who has become an outspoken opponent of the government since he quit his post as the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has hinted that he may run for president next year. Analysts expect Jamal, son of President Hosni Mubarak, to be the frontrunner.

Thus, Al Baradei's supporters accuse the government of trying to "defame" the man by portraying him as "a liberal" father who would allow his daughter to be pictured in a swimming suit in a conservative society like Egypt's. There is, however, no evidence the government has anything to do with the incident.

Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with his daughter posing in a swimming suit. It is her private life. But, most importantly, it is unethical to go after an opponent by targeting his family. This is just wrong.