A German minister has refused to wear a hijab during a visit to Saudi Arabia - saying women should have the same right to choose their clothing as men.
Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen's stand came a week after Chancellor Angela Merkel called for the burka to be banned.
Von der Leyen was in Saudi capital Riyadh to meet deputy crown prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, where she voiced her annoyance at the expectation that women cover up.
But it sparked anger in the deeply-conservative state, where social media users called for her to be arrested.
It comes in a week when a Saudi woman was arrested for taking off her veil in public.
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Ursula von der Leyen wore a suit when she was received by the Vice Regent and Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud, in the Divan Palace
The German minister voiced her annoyance at the expectation that women should wear traditional clothing when visiting the country
The German minister shunned traditional Saudi attire, opting instead for a dark blue suit when she met her counterpart at the Divan Palace in the country's capital.
Her decision sparked anger on Twitter in Saudi Arabia, Al Bawaba reported.
One Twitter user wrote: 'Ok so why didn't they arrest her? The hypocrisy and double standards.'
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen wore a suit as she was received by Saudi Assistant Defence Minister Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh at the King Salman Air Base in Riyadh
Another posted: 'The German Defense Minister: Not wearing the hijab in Saudi was deliberate. This is an insult to Saudi Arabia!'
Speaking of her refusal to wear full-length robes, known as the abaya, Das Bild reports, she said: 'No woman in my delegation has to wear the abaya.
'The right to choose your own clothing is a right shared by men and women alike. It annoys me, when women are to pushed into wearing the abaya.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4032302/Female-German-minister-REFUSES-wear-hijab-visit-Saudi-Arabia-days-Angela-Merkel-calls-burka-ban.html#ixzz4SrkJpDml
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