Attached zip file has a test case which illustrate the problem:

A python process (`dload.py') loads up a shared library (`libfoo1.so')
and makes a call to a foreign function `foo'. `foo' Initializes Python
and creates makes a call to PyModule_New at which point dload.py
crashes.

If the calling process is not python(`dload.c'), there is no crash

This sort of situation occurs with python-pam.  I'm not sure if this
is a programmer error and would welcome correction

[I'm supplying a zip file because I can't attach multiple files
Steps to repeat
1. compile libfoo1.so according to comment
2. Run ./dload.py
3. Optionally compile and run dload.c