{UAH} German minister sparks outrage after REFUSING to wear hijab during Saudi Arabia visit

Afuwa Kasule/Mayimuna,

What do you make of this action by the German Minister? We feminists are actually pleased that she took such a step, symbolic as it is. We must liberate the Saudi women from the tight grip of male chauvinism and gender based oppression.

Bobby

German minister sparks outrage after REFUSING to wear hijab during Saudi Arabia visit

GERMANY'S defence minister has sparked fury in Saudi Arabia after she willingly refused to wear a hijab during an official visit to the Kingdom.

By Aletha Adu

PUBLISHED: 03:43, Thu, Dec 15, 2016 | UPDATED: 07:40, Thu, Dec 15, 2016

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Ursula von der Leyen and her entourage did not wear the hijab head coverings or the full length Abaya garment during her visit, despite adamantly claiming that she "respected" the country's customs and traditions.

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Germany's defence minister refused to wear the hijab

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The German Defence Minister walked freely in her tailored navy suit

According to an Iranian newspaper, Von der Leyen said: "No woman in my delegation will be required to wear the abaya, as the right to choose one's attire is a right shared by men and women equally."

Shortly after her meeting with the Deputy Crown Prince Mohnammed bin Salman al Saud, Saudis took to twitter to express their disdain for her actions.

#German Left criticised their defence minister's trip to Saudi but Y not applaud her for not wearing a Hijab? pic.twitter.com/5z8WJZUxHp

— potkin azarmehr (@potkazar) December 14, 2016

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Michelle Obama was ridiculed for not wearing a hijab during Obama's visit to the state this year

One translated tweet said: "The German Defence Minister: not wearing the hijab in Saudi was deliberate. This is an insult to Saudi Arabia!"

A similar angry reaction on twitter occurred after First Lady Michelle Obama did not wear a hijab last year.

GETTY

Angela Merkel recently called for a ban on the burka in Germany

The hashtags #MichelleObamaImmodest and MichelleObamaNotVeiled trended for a while on twitter.

Der Leyen wore a dark blue suit while donning the traditional ghutrah head covering.

Michael Ohnmacht, a German Embassy official, quickly tried to change the focus on the debate.

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The Duchess of Cornwall kept her hijab on for a short while

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The Duchess of Cornwall wore a hijab for part of her visit

He said: "The talks between Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed and the German minister focused on ways and means to beef up Saudi German cooperation in different areas, including high-level exchanges, personally education and training, defence, mutual visits and security affairs."

Her "disrespect" towards the Arabian Gulf state comes days after Angela Merkel, Germany's Chancellor, called for a ban on the burqa in Germany.

Saudi Arabian protests

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Demonstrators in the Middle East have protested against the killing of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia.

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Demonstrators burn tires during a protest, against the execution of prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr by Saudi authorities, in Manama, Bahrain

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Angela Merkel, Hillary Clinton, Condoleeza Rice and former First Lady Laura Bush all refused to wear the hijab.

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Hillary Clinton did not wear a hijab when she visited Saudi Arabia

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Angela Merkel in Saudi Arabia, without a hijab

The Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall decided to adhere to Saudi Arabia's custom, although the Duchess kept hers on for a short while. 

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Female German minister REFUSES to wear a hijab during visit to Saudi Arabia, days after Angela Merkel calls for a burka ban 

• Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen wore a business suit for her meetings at the Divan Palace in Riyadh
• She was criticised on Twitter by Saudis for not wearing traditional Saudi clothing
• Von der Leyen said she was annoyed that visitors are expected to wear an abaya 
• It comes a week after Angela Merkel called for the burka to be banned
• On Monday a Saudi woman was arrested for taking off her veil and posing for photographs 

By Dave Burke For Mailonline

Published: 10:17, 14 December 2016 | Updated: 16:08, 14 December 2016

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A German minister has refused to wear a hijab during a visit to Saudi Arabia - saying women should have the same right to choose their clothing as men.

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen's stand came a week after Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the burka to be banned.

Von der Leyen was in Saudi capital Riyadh to meet deputy crown prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, where she voiced her annoyance at the expectation that women cover up.

But it sparked anger in the deeply-conservative state, where social media users called for her to be arrested. 

It comes in a week when a Saudi woman was arrested for taking off her veil in public. 

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Ursula von der Leyen wore a suit when she was received by the Vice Regent and Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud, in the Divan Palace

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The German minister voiced her annoyance at the expectation that women should wear traditional clothing when visiting the country

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The German minister shunned traditional Saudi attire, opting instead for a dark blue suit when she met her counterpart at the Divan Palace in the country's capital.

Her decision sparked anger on Twitter in Saudi Arabia, Al Bawaba reported. 

One Twitter user wrote: 'Ok so why didn't they arrest her? The hypocrisy and double standards.' 

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German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen wore a suit as she was received by Saudi Assistant Defence Minister Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh at the King Salman Air Base in Riyadh

Another posted: 'The German Defense Minister: Not wearing the hijab in Saudi was deliberate. This is an insult to Saudi Arabia!' 

Speaking of her refusal to wear full-length robes, known as the abaya, Das Bild reports, she said: 'No woman in my delegation has to wear the abaya. 

'The right to choose your own clothing is a right shared by men and women alike. It annoys me, when women are to pushed into wearing the abaya.'

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The newspaper reported that although servants looked 'astonished' at the sight of the German minister in traditional dress, it did not spark any protests.

All women in Saudi Arabia – local and foreign – are legally required to wear an abaya – which is a traditional full-body covering.

Muslim women must also wear a headscarf – or hijab – but foreigners do not need to.

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US First Lady Michelle Obama was last year criticised in Saudi Arabia when she went out bare-headed on a visit with her husband

The face does not need to be covered, but some opt to wear the full burka.

Von der Leyen followed the example set by US First Lady Michelle Obama, who was condemned in Saudi Arabia when she went bare-headed on a visit with her husband last year.

Saudi Arabia has been criticised for its attitude to women, who are not allowed to hold driving licenses and who are expected to adhere to strict standards in the way they dress.

In 2013, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visited Saudi Arabia, where they met Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud.

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The Prince Of Wales and The Duchess Of Cornwall met King Abdullah in Riyadh in 2013, but as a member of the royal family, Camilla is not required to wear an abaya

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Camilla did, however, wear a headscarf when she arrived in Saudi Arabia during a tour of the Middle East in 2013

Camilla was also bare-headed when she met King Abdullah, but as a member of the royal family, Saudi laws mean she is not not required to wear an abaya.

British Foreign Office guidelines state: 'Women should observe the strict Saudi dress code and wear conservative and loose-fitting clothes, including a full-length cloak (abaya) and a keep a scarf with them in case they are asked to cover their head by the Hai'a, commonly known as Muttawa (Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice/Religious Police).

'Men should not wear shorts in public or go without a shirt. Visitors should always seek guidance concerning acceptable clothing.'

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British Prime Minister Theresa May last week met King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia in Manama, Bahrain

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Last week Angela Merkel told her CDU party conference that the full veil is 'not appropriate' in Germany

Last week Angela Merkel called for a burka ban, saying the 'full veil is not appropriate' in Germany.

The German chancellor told her conservative CDU party conference that wearing the burka should be outlawed 'wherever that is legally possible'.

Merkel said she would back a nationwide ban just months after revealing that she believed the burka was a barrier to Muslim women becoming integrated into German society.

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