A female news anchor in Saudi Arabia did the “unthinkable” when she appeared on national television without wearing her hijab, a move that caused an uproar in the Islamic state.
Video of the unnamed newscaster, whose hair flowed naturally while reporting for the Al Ekhbariya channel, left many viewers in the region outraged, according to the Independent. If you aren’t familiar with Saudi Arabia, the country has a strict policy that requires women to dress modestly and keep their heads covered with a traditional hijab — or headscarf.
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Even though women are often seen on television in Saudi Arabia without traditional headscarves, it is unprecedented for a female newscaster to be seen without it on government-controlled television stations. A spokesman for Saudi radio and television pointed out the the newscaster was reading the reports from a studio in London, not the one in Saudi Arabia. Although the anchor has been seen wearing her hijab in other news reports, this video just so happened to have gone viral. “We do not tolerate any transgression of our values and the country’s systems,” spokesman Saleh Al Mughailif said. He also mentioned that there will be no repeats of the incident after hearing how viewers reacted.
Women in Saudi Arabia aren’t only subjected to strict dress policies. Women in the country are also prohibited from driving, but that hasn’t stopped them from protesting and taking the keys to any of their male counterparts’ cars. CNN writer Mohammed Jamjoom wrote an opinion piece about the driving restrictions women are under and how that essentially affects other aspects of their lives. “The country’s mandatory guardianship system means women cannot legally be responsible for their own affairs,” he wrote.
The Islamic policy of women being required to wear a hijab in public is controversial (some women praise the tradition, while others see it as oppressive). But, allowing women to make a decision for themselves without outrage is what should be allowed.
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