Manama: A member of Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council has called for a national dress code for all women representing the country, and not just for television presenters.
“We need to have a clear Islamic dress for all women as their national dress,” Ebrahim Abu Abat said. “The dress code must not be confined to women presenters and news readers on television,” he said as the consultative council was discussing a draft for an audio-visual law.
The Shura member attributed his call to extend the dress code to the embarrassment and heavy criticism expressed by Saudis after a Saudi woman diplomat was shown giving a speech at the United Nations without wearing a head scarf.
“Saudis were shocked and appalled by the sight of a diplomat representing the kingdom without being committed to wearing the veil,” he said. “Several non-Saudis were also puzzled by her looks since they consider Saudi Arabia as the guide for all Muslims,” he said, local daily Makkah reported on Wednesday.
Dr Manal Radhwan, a senior member of the Saudi diplomatic mission to the United Nations, waded into controversy after a picture of her giving a speech at the United Nations Security Council on January 30 went viral on the internet.
Hailed as the first Saudi woman to address the Security Council, Manal however was harshly criticized for her “non-conventional” looks.
One report published in the capital Riyadh said that orders had been given by senior Saudi authorities to investigate the incident, but no official statement has been released on the issue.
According to news site Sabq, the “high authorities” insisted that those who represented Saudi Arabia “must reflect the values and social traditions of the Saudi people.”
Some bloggers called for punitive measures against her.
“I wonder who allowed this woman to speak on behalf of Saudi Arabia at an international gathering,” Maasoob posted. “She has caused us deep embarrassment. Everybody knows that we are a conservative society and I call for action against those who are implicated in this embarrassment, including those who allowed her to speak on behalf of Saudi Arabia.”
But while “shocked” Saudis criticized Manal, “elated” Saudis poured praise on her competencies and her ability to represent the kingdom at some of the most challenging and demanding places.
“Manal Radhwan did not embarrass anyone or her country as some people claim,” Pen of Truth, a blogger, posted on news site Al Marsad. “She was the first Saudi woman to address the Security Council and she succeeded in raising the name of Saudi Arabia high. Unfortunately, there are those who resist and fight successes and insist on not allowing Saudi Arabia to move forward. The real source of embarrassment for Saudi Arabia is not Manal, but those who refuse to move forward.”
Reports said that Manal was born in the Turkish capital Ankara and that her father, one of the most senior diplomats in Saudi Arabia, was ambassador in London, Paris, Addis Ababa, Ankara and Accra.
