Not even US first lady Michelle Obama could avoid ultra-fundamentalist anger in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, as the widely popular Michelle — in most parts of the world– generated local criticism by not wearing a headscarf and for daring to meet new Saudi King Salman with … a handshake.
According to the strict Islamic laws in the oil-rich kingdom, men are not allow to have any kind of physical contact with women who are not their immediate relatives or spouse, thus a handshake is “haram”!
Michelle Obama accompanied Barack, the president, during his brief stayover in Saudi Arabia, where he expressed America’s condolences following the death of King Abdullah.
Although Michelle Obama was otherwise well-dressed, and stylishly so, the lack of a head cover drew the ire of twitterati in the kingdom.
Some users of 21st century, mostly American-designed and operated social media harkened back centuries to express their displeasure with the lack of a head cover for Michelle’s VIP head.
The only thing Michelle didn’t do — and maybe should have done — was personally drive the armored limo used by the US presidential couple.