Michelle Obama Defies Saudi Arabia!

First Lady Michelle Obama may have been by her husband’s side in Saudi Arabia to pay respects after King Abdullah’s death, but her demeanor told another story entirely.



The wife of President Barack Obama was part of a stream of American dignitaries in the ultraconservative desert kingdom on Tuesday.

Mrs Obama did not cover her head during the Riyadh visit, which is often standard for Western women visiting the kingdom but forbidden for Saudi women.

Saudi Arabia imposes a strict interpretation of Islamic law, forbidding women to work or travel without the authorisation of their male guardians.

It is also the only country in the world that bans women from driving, and a woman cannot obtain an identification card without the consent of her guardian. Floggings and death sentences are also commonplace.

Mrs Obama was pictured grimacing several times during the four-hour the visit, which saw some members of the all-male Saudi delegation shake her hand, while others simply nodded at her as they passed by.