Controversy Over Michelle Obama’s Refusal To Cover Head In Saudi

Michelle Obama’s latest visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral of the late King Abdullah - has triggered controversy, she has been accused of continuing to enforce a headstrong image of not wanting to cover her hair.
Not covering her hair has caused a ripple of controversy, but it appears that the force behind that ripple is coming from those outside the kingdom.

Headlines suggest that Barack Obama's wife defiantly rejected the locally enforced custom - but the reality appears to be different.

A hashtag which translates as #Michelle_Obama_unveiled reveals there is some discontent from Muslims about her appearance, but many of the posts are in fact sarcastically dismissing the furore.

Joseph Ibaalkhal says the focus of the debate is all wrong, tweeting: "The hashtag illustrates the extent to which we are immersed in the margins Michelle_Obama_unveiled"

Another Twitter user, Abdulelah!, writes: "The president of the greatest country in the world visits the most important country in the world and yet the most important headline of the visit is ... #Michelle_Obama_unveiled"

Others pointed to the kingdom's princesses who are often photographed abroad in expensive designer dresses and with no hijab (hair cover).

A significant number of posts to the contrary came from outside Saudi Arabia.

Rima Youssef wrote: "So Michelle Obama has respect for some and not others. Booo #Michelle_Obama_unveiled" 

Accusations that Mrs Obama had been blurred out by Saudi State TV were aggressively dismissed by the Saudi embassy in the US on Twitter.

 

It tweeted: "Report by Bloomberg View's Josh Rogin that Saudi TV "blurred" image of First Lady Michelle Obama is FALSE. Should check facts, not Facebook." 

There is no Saudi Arabian protocol which dictates that politicians, royalty, heads of states or their wives must cover their hair.

We know this because Mrs Obama is also not the first to travel there without a headscarf - Hillary Clinton wore a shawl around her shoulders on one visit but her hair was uncovered. 

Nancy Pelosi, the then Speaker of the US House of Representatives, caused controversy when she wore a headscarf in Syria. In Saudi Arabia she did not. George W Bush's wife Laura Bush also arrived in the country without the traditional dress.

It's not just the Americans who are at it. The Saudis have witnessed Germany's Angela Merkel and the late Princess Diana arriving without their hair covered.

Those on state visits are considered to be representing their nation and their nation's customs at official meetings and in the palaces.  Elsewhere it could be a different matter.

Should Michelle Obama choose to visit schools in Riyadh or just walk through the streets, she may well be expected to wear an "abya" - a black lose robe - or perhaps a loose scarf. 

During a visit to Indonesia, an uncomfortable looking Mrs Obama wore a leopard print scarf to cover her hair, a sign that she is not adverse to towing the traditional line when required.

Whatever the reasons behind her unveiled hair, the image is in stark contrast with that of Saudi Arabian women who live there.

Recently, protesters who drove in defiance of ban on women drivers were arrested.

A woman cannot travel within Saudi Arabia unless accompanied by a male escort. Should she wish to travel abroad, she needs the explicit permission of her father or husband.

And, despite a law against forced marriages, they still take place.