Michelle Obama draws flak for going without headscarf in Saudi Arabia
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RIYADH: Joining President Barack Obama for a condolence visit after the death of the King Abdullah, Mrs. Obama stepped off of Air Force One wearing long pants and a long, brightly coloured jacket — but no headscarf.
Under the kingdom's strict dress code for women, Saudi females are required to wear a headscarf and loose, black robes in public.
Most women in Saudi Arabia cover their hair and face with a niqab (veil). But covering one's head is not required for foreigners, and some Western women choose to forego the headscarf while in Saudi Arabia.
As an all-male delegation of dozens of Saudi officials greeted the Obamas in Riyadh, some shook hands with Mrs Obama. Others avoided a handshake but acknowledged the first lady with a nod as they passed by.
Saudi Arabia imposes many restrictions on women on the strict interpretation of Shariah law known as Wahhabism. Genders are strictly segregated and women are banned from driving, although there have been campaigns in recent years to lift that ban.
Guardianship laws also require women to get permission from a male relative to travel, get married, enroll in higher education or undergo certain surgical procedures.
More than 1,500 tweets criticised the first lady on Twitter using a hashtag that roughly translates to #MichelleObamaunveiled, said a report published on the Washington Post.
Some pointed out that Michelle Obama had worn a headscarf during a recent trip to Indonesia. However, many users said that Mrs Obama should not be criticised as the trip to Saudi Arabia was impromptu.
The Obamas' visit to Saudi Arabia itself stirred backlash due to recent international criticism of the country for the flogging of blogger Raif Badwani for insulting Islam. President Obama reportedly said that the visit was apolitical and he is not likely to discuss Badwani with the new king.
Some reports suggested that Saudi state television's broadcast blurred footage of Michelle Obama's head during the couple's meeting with Saudi Arabia's new king. However, Saudi Embassy officials in Washington denied that Michelle Obama's uncovered head was blurred on television, according to a report published on ABC News.
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The broadcast showed Mr. and Mrs. Obama being welcomed by King Salman on a red-carpeted ramp and a military band played American and Saudi national anthems.
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Comments (102) Closed
Jan 28, 2015 12:18pm
Obama went to Saudia with big official delegation.... like Secretary of State John Kerry and CIA Director John Brennan , as will as top Obama advisers Susan Rice and Lisa Monaco. All these absent from India visit??? India's visit was more like a holiday or nothing serious...
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Jan 28, 2015 12:19pm
Dress code is applicable for natives of particular country. As a guest, generally acceptable decent dress to be worn.
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Jan 28, 2015 12:24pm
The dress code is communicated by the host country...its actually the Saudis who didnt mind her coming without a headscarf.
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Jan 28, 2015 12:32pm
This is absolutely wrong, if anyone does not want wear headscarf, no one asks them to wear headscarf, whereas loose clothing is required, and if you see Mrs. Obama her clothes are loose, so, there is nothing wrong here.
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Jan 28, 2015 12:50pm
What about ARAMCO residential complex in SAudi Arabia..where you can be free as you like .....
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Jan 28, 2015 12:59pm
Good on the First Lady of the United States for holding her uncovered head up high in this land where misogyny rules.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:00pm
Wrong perception about Saudi Arabia when you see from outside of the Kingdom.. Although it is controlled, you can see many females without headscarf, although they are not foreigners... What Mrs. Obama wearing comes in the definition of decency compared to what we witnessed here in the Kingdom, being worn by younng lot of local ladies... And if they are so strict, why some of the Saudis present there shook hand with the first lady??
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Jan 28, 2015 01:04pm
Not good thinking. Respect women.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:23pm
@shah.. Still can't accept it?
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Jan 28, 2015 01:29pm
She is not a Muslim.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:44pm
we were told you can dress in your normal clothes like in your own country. the dress code is for residents only and they know you aren't islamic. we maybe read somewhere that it's generaly advisable to kinda match the country you're in sometimes where they dress kinda different. sometimes in the US people freely don't wear much clothes sometimes.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:46pm
@shah saudi visit is to convince Saudi to lower the production of oil, so oil prices will increase and American oil industry will survive.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:47pm
@shah bro Obama's visit in Saudia was just a ceremonial one to pay homage to late king and also to congratulate the new king on his anointment.Since there was a major regime change so to give full support John Kerry and other important delegation visited with Obama.
But his India visit was ceremonial(participation on Republic day) as well as Political and Economic.Ground work for this was completed in 1-2 months hard discussion with important officials.Remember John Kerry's visit during Vibrant Gujrat summit few days before,multi phased talks between indo-us officials on nuclear deal.
Also remember when PM Nawaj visits any country,it is not necessary to bring Foreign minister/COAS with him.Bro stop thinking narrow because it is people like you(Pakistani) and I(indian) who have to think about the development of the subcontinent as a whole.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:48pm
@shah Correct..it was more like a holiday and in this holiday, he joined the R day parade, cleared the nuclear deal, met the Indian business icons, went to speak on Radio, pledged 4 billion $, ramped up the Indo-US business to a projected 500 Billions $ and so on....so i guess you should be happy that he didn't come for some serious business....
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Jan 28, 2015 01:48pm
As an America, I am proud that none of the American ladies including Mrs. Obama, Dr. Condi Rice, etc. wore any head covering. Why should they? They were not going to a funeral.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:50pm
Michelle Obama draws flak for going without headscarf in Saudi Arabia... why are we so much obsessed with scarf... the region is burning, children are being killed.. the countries are turning into rubble and we want to talk about head scarf... Michelle Obama does not have the scarf on her head but we surely have the scarf on our eyes... it is an American philosophy...A midst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the goals set. Put your head down, do the best job possible, let the flak pass, and work towards those goals.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:53pm
@shah: Good, keep thinking that way. That's what India wants too.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:57pm
Well done Mrs Obama, The Saudis are stuck they need the US the most.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:58pm
Male chauvinist bigots who do not respect women rights rule Saudis Arabia.
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Jan 28, 2015 01:58pm
@BK You are totally wrong.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:00pm
@shah If you care to read, India and US finalized Civi Nucelar Deal, signed pacts of joint development of defense equiments, UAVs, clean energy to name a few. I would leave it to reader's discretion to determine if it was a holiday trip or serious visit.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:01pm
@Moosa No it was Obama who said no to the scarf take or leave it.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:09pm
Wearing a headscarf is not part of the law in Saudi Arabia contrary to what many people think.
Most foreigners do not wear one when they live there.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:13pm
During India visit International media was abuzz of what she chose to wear (read dresses by international designers of latest trend) and during Arabia visit same media is abuzz by what she didn't. Nevertheless it proved that sometimes restriction on cloths itself tells a lot about status of women in the society.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:39pm
Like her husband Michelle Obama is a law graduate. She did not wear a head scarf for a a very good reason. The Saudis got the message.
Americans only cover their heads inside a church, a mosque or temple. American women have no religious reason to wear a scarf on the street.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:39pm
There are more imp things than dress to discuss in world affairs !
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Jan 28, 2015 02:52pm
@Rishi
America has California oil, Texas and Oklahoma crude, offshore oil in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, up north in Wyoming and North Dakota, in Alaska the largest US state and a few other places. The US refines Mexican crude oil, and sells the gasoline back to Mexico. Most of Venezuela's oil is carried by tankers to Port Arthur and Texas City. America is also invested in Canadian shale oil reserves.
Doubt America will run out of oil in the next 150 years.
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Jan 28, 2015 02:58pm
@jasmine
Not much clothing is worn by women in Brazil and the rest of Latin America or Africa. Too hot.
In Saudi Arabia women should at least be allowed to wear white which reflects the heat, rather than black which absorbs heat.
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Jan 28, 2015 03:09pm
Pakistan must implement the same law of covering head to toe by females as mandatory as soon as possible. Because our masters in KSA are doing that and so must we.
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Jan 28, 2015 03:13pm
@shah Grapes are sour my friend
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Jan 28, 2015 03:20pm
Why do Muslims always want every one to follow their dress code?. Do we have no sense left in us?.
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Jan 28, 2015 03:28pm
@shah they are going to saudi because of funeral ceremny...and as far as india is concern they are invited as main guest on the occacian of the republic day.
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Jan 28, 2015 03:37pm
@shah all right mr. shah so be happy bro
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Jan 28, 2015 03:44pm
key word is women have to wear scarves ?
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Jan 28, 2015 04:03pm
"Under the kingdom's strict dress code for women, Saudi females are required to wear a headscarf and loose, black robes in public"
Mrs.Obama is not a "Saudi Female". She is a US Citizen - end of matter.
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Jan 28, 2015 04:05pm
Non-Muslim women are never asked to wear a headscarf in KSA. That restriction is only for Muslim women.
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Jan 28, 2015 04:32pm
Focus should be on the real issues....
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Jan 28, 2015 04:43pm
@MSK
Many wealthy Saudis when they are in UK or Europe do not wear the veil or burqa and are seen in the latest fashions.
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Jan 28, 2015 04:51pm
@shah Yes it was a holiday in way as he was invited chief guest to Republic day celebration. Not sure what point you are trying to make with a head of state and most powerful visting India
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Jan 28, 2015 05:22pm
@shah india`s credibility leaves no space for cia, and kerry had enough time to attend seminar in ahmedabad, let alone delhi
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Jan 28, 2015 05:29pm
Proud of you Michelle Obama! Saudi's are hypocrites.... Indonesians on the other hand generally are well meaning muslims
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Jan 28, 2015 05:36pm
She is first Lady of USA not a common women.. She do what she want
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Jan 28, 2015 05:48pm
If you want WEST not to object headscarf in their countries than why question Westerners wear their clothes in Muslim Countries??
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Jan 28, 2015 05:49pm
@NaMaaloom Fard : Way to generalize an entire population based on actions of a few.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:01pm
muslim world should focus more on science and development than these small issues
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Jan 28, 2015 06:06pm
@NaMaaloom Fard
How easy to hurt others' feelings.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:18pm
@shah I understand your frustration and bitterness.Goodluck Bro.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:21pm
The forced dress code is only for the natives.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:40pm
@Ashish
Fully agree; very dispassionate and objective.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:45pm
@Abhai
Holiday trip? Utter nonsense. It was the most productive meetings of two major countries of the world.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:46pm
@shah
Susan Rice was with Obama India visit
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Jan 28, 2015 06:46pm
Bravo, Michelle Obama.
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Jan 28, 2015 06:52pm
@ shah.John Kerry attended MAKE IN INDIA programme few days back in Gujarat with Modi. cool.....
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Jan 28, 2015 06:56pm
@Khalid absolutely wright
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Jan 28, 2015 07:08pm
@Cyrus Ho they are not allowed to wear other than black? really? what is the source of this information? I though majority wears black abaya as their culture? I have seen other colors too.
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Jan 28, 2015 07:11pm
@Khalid please do not generalize your own thoughts to all Muslims. we do not. you may also stop doing it.
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Jan 28, 2015 07:25pm
Oh for God's sake!
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Jan 28, 2015 07:29pm
@shah
He he he :) Dil bahalane ko galib khayal achcha hai ;)
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Jan 28, 2015 07:31pm
Two very unlikely allies. The cement in this tie is oil.
Scarves would mean accepting the regressive repression of the Saudi rulers!
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Jan 28, 2015 07:32pm
@Khalid EXACTLY.....things like this leads to simmering anger and resentment and a disdain for the Muslim world!
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Jan 28, 2015 07:40pm
@shah good if it makes you happy.
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Jan 28, 2015 07:53pm
Its hard to imagine that grown up men and women waste energy, space in print- and e-media, on such trivialities. Such pettiness needs to be discarded. But Muslims insist on being petty, then if Muslims woman in the non-Muslim nation like USA insist on wearing Burqa and covering head, unlike majority community, then why should not non-Muslim woman have equal right to exercise right in non-Muslim nation. Remember those in glass houses should not throw stones! And when it comes to rights on non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia, and almost all Muslim nation, no one has as fragile glass as these societies.
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Jan 28, 2015 07:59pm
@shah
Of course it was a vacation... people always seek out the best places to go for vacation....Like a hill station or a beach or just a great historical place. In this case, it was visiting the worlds best & biggest democracy. Also hang out with a good friend like Modi. Oh yeah... at the end... he just got impressed and offered a $4B towards the friendship. BTW - it's called geo political PR.
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Jan 28, 2015 08:13pm
Who can stop people from criticizing 'anything'
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Jan 28, 2015 08:15pm
The news is actually about 1500 persons with itchy fingers on Twitter. Out of how many users? I dare not imagine the headlines in print if the number had been 3000.
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Jan 28, 2015 08:49pm
As far as I am concerned, Michelle Obama did well not covering her head if that is how she is comfortable. Men should direct their eyes to the ground when in front of a woman if I am not mistaken, according to Islam, so why the criticism anyway? The extreme ways practised in Saudi Arabia, apart from humiliating women is un-Islamic, goes against the norms of basic human rights. Hopefully the new unelected king will turn any empathy he may possess towards the rights of minorities, gender and other such humane issues. And the west stop blindly praising all that emanates from this kingdom because of economic interests....
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Jan 28, 2015 08:52pm
Mutual Hypocrisy of West and Saudis for each other is deeper than you could think.
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Jan 28, 2015 09:05pm
Don't we have bigger and more important issues to address?
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Jan 28, 2015 09:06pm
US people are above the Saudi laws and they do not care what types of laws are in force. No surprise but it gives the clue for authoritative and dictatorship domination. Just take it since there is no choice left.Best wishes
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Jan 28, 2015 09:09pm
@Khalid .am in uk I don't go round telling everyone what is the dress code or u got to wear clothes like we do that's up to Saudi Arabia what kind of clothes they let people to wear or not.
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Jan 28, 2015 09:10pm
@a_writer This shows US is no more friend of Saudia.. rather master.
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Jan 28, 2015 09:11pm
Why should Michelle Obama adopt a Saudi custom during a state visit? She is American and not Saudi!
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Jan 28, 2015 09:11pm
Saudia keep more oil pumping ... to keep prices low. As far as American trade is concerned... all will go to CHINA eventually bec. everything in US is made in China.
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Jan 28, 2015 09:37pm
You have issues because France banned burqa and you have issue because Michelle Obama did nt cover her head.
Are the two not the same issue. Your religion says cover the head and their does not have any compulsion.
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Jan 28, 2015 09:48pm
What a serious joke?
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Jan 28, 2015 09:51pm
Okay this seems to be blown out of proportion. I have seen footage and videos of Princess Ameera bint Aidan without headscarf in Saudi Arabia. Anyone can look up those videos on youtube.
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Jan 28, 2015 10:04pm
@shah pakistan visit? oh wait....... and xi didn't even come or putin
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Jan 28, 2015 10:35pm
The foreigners in Saudia Arabia are required to cover their head but are exempted from covering their face (veil). In Jeddah, I have seen many foreign female dignitaries with their head covered only and that's the norm for them. Journalists like Christian Amanpour always cover their heads when they are in Iran or KSA out of respect for the culture. As they say 'in Rome do as the Romans do.'
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Jan 28, 2015 10:37pm
@Manoj ARAMCO is mini America, owned and operated by America.
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Jan 28, 2015 10:45pm
This is called hypocrisy. Different rule for first lady and different rule for others. No other women, resident or non-resident can dare to go open in public without headscarf and Jilabia.
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Jan 28, 2015 11:04pm
Kudos to sister Michelle.
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Jan 29, 2015 01:16am
We do not have rights to critisize other,make yourself example
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Jan 29, 2015 03:27am
@M. Athar
How come all the BBC reporters wear head gear
in Muslim Countries
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Jan 29, 2015 04:17am
@Shahid the best comment
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Jan 29, 2015 05:54am
She did the right thing.
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Jan 29, 2015 05:57am
@M. Athar
why discriminate against muslims women though? Give them the same rights and freedom non-muslims women have, let them roam free with their head covered and held high. For progress of islamic world, women emancipation is must.
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Jan 29, 2015 05:59am
Well done our first lady. If dress and clothing reflected true character of a person than whole Muslim world will reflect honesty, integrity, peace and tolerance. Guess which countries are most corrupt and have no respect for women? I wish people put more emphasis on good character and behaviour than the type of clothes, scarf or beard. Got mirror?
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Jan 29, 2015 06:13am
@shah Does it matter ...cool down...By the way Susan Rice was very much in India so stop being so sour and mind Pakistan's business
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Jan 29, 2015 06:32am
Hey why only Michele, Obama should have adhere to dress code ( similar to what muslim men wear in arab countries)!
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Jan 29, 2015 06:49am
@khanm Very well put.Muslims are stuck in 7th century.
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Jan 29, 2015 07:27am
What a ridiculous debate? Should we even be arguing about first lady's dress code where political implications are so great and entire middle east is in crisis? What a waste of time and energies? Ridiculous.
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Jan 29, 2015 08:21am
@khanm
I agree with you Khanm, why is this an issue at all. This is so superficial.
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Jan 29, 2015 08:25am
As the article says - "covering one's head is not required for foreigners" - so what is the big deal?
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Jan 29, 2015 08:28am
@Fiz Doing it voluntarily is different to being required by law to do it.
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Jan 29, 2015 06:04pm
got to credit Michelle for not wearing a scarf... no reason for her to cover her head if she does not want to!!
And by the way.. why is it acceptable for Saudi to impose their "dress code" on outsiders while it was difficult for Arabs to accept the French asking Muslims to adhere to their own "dress code" of NOT covering the face ??? Plain hypocrisy!!
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Jan 30, 2015 06:02am
Stop acting like idiots. She is not a Muslim and she doesn't normally wear head scarf. Let it go. Look around you half of this world doesn't have a dress code which resembles yours.You all scream when they want you to follow their dress code when visiting or living in their country.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:15am
@shah You are burning. Why didn't they spend their HOLIDAY in your country?
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Jan 30, 2015 10:16am
Nobody cares these puppets of west.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:42am
when you are in Rome, be a Roman. If this is accepted, Michale should have worn the scarf howsoever it could be termed as saudi's stupid treacherous laws. the same thing shall be applied when France insists that no Naqab to ensure that face is visible for security reasons and not for some religious reasons.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:44am
Great - she has earned my appreciation..
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Jan 31, 2015 01:05am
What non-sense. Michelle Obama is the first lady of the US. She doesn't have to wear any head scarf if she doesn't want to. News reporters some times comply with head scarf etc. because they want the interview and other favors but why Michelle Obama? What flak and from who and why?
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Jan 31, 2015 01:09am
@shah : It was US President's visit to India and he brought with him whatever he needed. To communicate with Modi, he didn't need a big entourage. Modi is a simple man and is not bound by any one
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