Outrage in Saudi Arabia as German minister refuses to wear a hijab during visit

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

The German defence minister, Ursula von der Leyen, has caused outrage after she and her team refused to cover their hair during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Von der Leyen, while in the Muslim county failed to wear the traditional hijab, even when she met with the Deputy Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman al Saud. 

Her action did not go down well with Saudi Arabians who took to social media to express their displeasure.

Von der Layen was reported by an Iranian newspaper to have said: 

“No woman in my delegation will be required to wear the abaya, as the right to choose one’s attire is the right shared by men and women equally.”

This news comes after Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, called for a ban on the burqa in Germany saying; “With us, the rule is: show your face, that's why the full veil is not appropriate, it should be banned.”