Rabat - U.S President Barack Obama went to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to pay respect to late Saudi King Abdullah in what appeared to be an expression of how important is the U.S.-American relationships.
However, Obama's visit to America's Middle Eastern ally was not at the center of attention, at least on social media platforms.
Instead, it was the attire his wife, Michelle Obama, wore in the conservative kingdom that sparked much of the controversy.
Saudi state television showed images of the American first lady not wearing a veil in a country where women are expected to cover their heads and faces and must be accompanied by a male relative.
Michelle Obama wore clothing that fully covered her arms, but not her head. Other foreign female guests were also shown in the photographs from the official event not wearing veils or headscarves.
Many Saudi social media users took to Twitter and used hashtags that criticized Michelle Obama's 'bold' move. Some Saudi Twitter users pointed out that Michelle Obama had worn a headscarf on recent trip to Indonesia, but not in Saudi Arabia.
???????? ???????? #?????_??????_???? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ????????? ??????? ???? ???? ????????? @mshanarm @s_a_aldweesh pic.twitter.com/KvGTO2hgG9
— ???? ??????? (@Riyadh_K_S_A) 27 Janvier 2015
#?????_??????_???? ??? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ?????? ? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? — ????????? : Beer (@t3ber_) 27 Janvier 2015
Otheres, however, applauded the first lady's move, describing it as a 'defiance' to Saudi Arabia's laws and traditions.
I wish Michelle had bare arms and a plunging neckline. #?????_??????_???? — Je Suis Reality (@preach_atheism) 28 Janvier 2015
Be your self and don't sacrifice your values to please others.#?????_??????_???? — #Justice4Serena (@WORLDEMPATH) 28 Janvier 2015
Hey Saudi Arabia, you might sell us lots of oil but you won't force your primitive and hateful ways to treat women. No. #?????_??????_???? — Camila Qariwarmi (@qariwarmi) 28 Janvier 2015
Saudis here, take a seat &let the world move forward unlike your static existence that is very similar to pre-islam time #?????_??????_???? — Mohamed Hemish (@MohamedHemish) 28 Janvier 2015
#?????_??????_???? #MichelleObama blurred Problem solved? pic.twitter.com/k4KatNat39
— colonelC (@oO_Qo) 27 Janvier 2015