First Lady draws criticism for not wearing headscarf in highly conservative country

Michelle Obama causes outrage in Saudi Arabia by not wearing headscarf

"In a show of solidarity with Saudi Arabia, President Barack Obama cut short his visit to India and led a parade of American dignitaries in Riyadh on Tuesday to pay respects after King Abdullah's death.

"But it was the presence - and attire - of his wife Michelle which drew the most attention in the ultraconservative desert kingdom.

"The First Lady dressed conservatively in black trousers and a long jacket, wearing loose clothing that fully covered her arms, but did not cover her head.

"It is forbidden for Saudi women to appear in public without their heads covered, and most Saudi women wear niqabs." . . .. 

Good on you, Michelle Obama A genuine attagirl from Legal Insurrection.  This isn’t an unprecedented move by the First Lady. During their trips to Saudi Arabia, neither Hillary Clinton nor Laura Bush opted to don a head scarf. (Technically, the modesty rules people are having such a hard time with here don’t apply to visitors.) But, as the Washington Postnotes, “in Saudi Arabia, the simple act of not covering your head can be political, intentionally or not.”