Video showing the first lady's image blurred out was shared on several social media platforms. PHOTO: AFP
Obama and King Salman met briefly on the sidelines of King Abdullah's funeral who died last week.
LATEST: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah dies at 90, Salman becomes new ruler
Television channels across Saudi Arabia showed King Salman welcoming Obama and his wife at the bottom of a red-carpeted ramp while a military band played the US and Saudi national anthems.
Michelle Obama wore a pair of slacks and a blue top with her hair uncovered. This was in stark contrast to Saudi women who are required to cover from head to toe.
PHOTO: REUTERS
A video showing the first lady's image blurred out was shared on several social media platforms as some criticised her for not covering her head with a headscarf.
PHOTO: DAILY MAIL COURTESY OF YOUTUBE
The Saudi embassy, however, took to their Twitter account and denied that her images were blurred.
Report by Bloomberg View's Josh Rogin that Saudi TV "blurred" image of First Lady Michelle Obama is FALSE. Should check facts, not Facebook
— Saudi Embassy USA (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) January 27, 2015
On the contrary, on a trip to Indonesia with her husband in 2010, Michelle Obama wore a headscarf to a mosque in Jakarta. The first lady came under scrutiny by many in the Muslim world for not doing the same in Saudi Arabia.
PHOTO: AFP
During the four-hour trip, Obama and King Salman held talks at the King's private residence - Erga Palace.
RELATED: Obama leads heavyweight mission to key ally Saudi
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I'm quite happy to see her not covering, this woman just might incite liberating women of kingdom.
Why single out france....china has also banned viel in some province. This is not right. Even the eyes should be covered. Women can use google glass or simply ask men what they see and imagine it themselves.
Good for her .I have long been opposed to the idea. If the high profile ladies tend to do this in public, then it sends a wrong message to impressionable girls.
Philosophy: the hair in the head is a personal vanity before god-Asking women to cover their hair is meant in this context, naturally from men's point of view. In some cultures both men and women do in place of worship and in others both give up their hair as an act of devotion to god.
In public life, mens' insistence that women should veil their hair in public and iin front of men is like subjecting the women to one step lower to men.
I dislike when our women who command a center stage in world politics regress to veiling their hair when they meet men on business.
As for place of worship, I personally do not care, since it is up to the individual's reverence. I do not think God does not care either.
These countries where islamic tradition of headwear is considered to be a must and anyone not complying to it is penalized - how come only westerners with white skin and the extra rich are allowed to roam around in the whole UAE and S.A without headwear and even enjoying the most luxurious Vegas kind of lifestyle in some Five Star Hotels and resorts. If any muslim/asian/paki -looking person is spotted doing this - it will be the last he/she did. Just sheer hypocrisy !!!
@fatwa; Only facial feature covering is banned not head. India and Pakistan should do that too. Long time back In mumbai hospital some man wore a burka came in hospital took away a new born baby and ran. Police couldnt trace his identity except he was man because of his walk and sports shoes. Maybe baby Mafia. It's security issue too. I am not sure I have heard Peshawar attack too some came in burka? The garb cloaks the person head to toe, nobody suspects its motives if used wrongly. Sadly india will never ban it. "Freedom of religion. And it's relgious pratices". But for any sane country in today's insecure terror filled world. Facial identity viewing is a must.
@Farwa:
France banned Burqah, covering head id ok there.
@Farwa: France has not ruled against hijaab -covering head and hair. It has ruled against niqaab in public space.
Both france and saudi arabia are extremists on this perspective. We cant force anyone to uncover their head(france extremism) or force anyone to cover their head (saudi extremism). While focusing on freedom of speech we should not forget this very basic right.
Will the Saudi Queen or Concubines remove her/their veil/s on a visit to France? If Islamic states insist on rules of their countries being followed by one and all the same should apply to Saudi nationals and others visiting Western countries.