Saudi Arabian law was able to finally catch up with the miniskirt woman strolling on a village road with her midriff and legs exposed to a video grab that has gone viral. Though she was released later, the issue did not subside the outrage among women who cried wolf at targeting only women and not foreigners nor men.
Some Twitter users immediately pointed out double standards when Saudi men praised President Donald Trump’s wife Melania and daughter Ivanka who were part of the state visit last month but never worn veils.
The arrested woman, identified merely as Model Khulood, eschwed robes and a headscarf as per the Saudi law, which bars women from driving. However, most women took to their smartphones to defend the woman in miniskirt and questioned the male-oriented state laws.
“If she were a foreigner, they would sing about the beauty of her waist and the enchantment of her eyes. But because she is Saudi they are calling for her arrest,” tweeted one Fatima al-Issa while another pointed out how Saudi businessman Hasan al Jameel could kiss American pop icon Rihanna in a pool and the photograph was splashed in local media.
One Twitter user superimposed Ivanka Trump’s face on Model Khulood to show the difference in standards. “Everyone’s acting like a saint over just a skirt, while Hassan al-Jameel lay in Rihanna’s arms and no one said a thing. Everyone praises him for that while Saudi women are being insulted,” said one Shajan al-Qahtani.
But males are unmoved and defended the laws. “In France, the niqab (Burqa) is banned and women are fined if they wear it. In Saudi Arabia, wearing robes and modest clothing is part of the kingdom’s laws,” tweeted one activist. Here are some reactions on Twitter:
GET THAT WOMEN
why – what did she do?
SHE IS WEARING A MINISKIRT
is that bad
THIS IS SAUDI ARABIA
phew
COMING TO ENGLAND ………..SOOOOOON pic.twitter.com/QPxd0Msi8E— Pym Purnell (@PymPurnell) July 19, 2017
Police normally hunt for criminals, but Saudi police are hunting for a woman for appearing in a miniskirt at a fort: pic.twitter.com/N50dZGJEQN
— Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) July 18, 2017
Saudi officials investigating random woman wearing a miniskirt in the streets while Saudi leader’s wife dresses in a similar fashion??? pic.twitter.com/dJznV8aBBF
— Ameera (@aljabari_) July 18, 2017
” A good conversation is like a miniskirt, short enough to retain interest but long enough to cover the subject “
— Rawan (@rwangh) July 10, 2017