Saudi Arabia investigates 'immodestly dressed' reporter covering women driving

Saudi Arabia investigates 'immodestly dressed' reporter covering women driving
Saudi Arabia's media regulator has referred a television anchor for investigation over her "immodest" clothing as she reported on the kingdom lifting the world's only ban on women drivers.
2 min read
27 June, 2018
Women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear the abaya by law [Twitter]

Saudi Arabia's media regulator has referred a television anchor for investigation over her "immodest" clothing as she reported on the kingdom lifting the world's only ban on women drivers.

The General Commission for Audiovisual Media made the announcement in an online statement on Tuesday.

The statement said that the anchor appeared "immodestly dressed in violation of regulations" in a report on women driving that has been widely shared on social media platforms, without naming the anchor.

Erem News  reported that statement referred to Saudi anchor Shireen al-Rifaie.

The UAE-based outlet published the video of Rifaie dressed in a loose-fitting white abaya and headscarf, exposing part of her shirt and trousers under the long robe.

The video has caused controversy in the ultra-conservative kingdom, where women are required to wear the abaya by law.

Saudi women celebrated taking the wheel for the first time in decades on Sunday as the kingdom overturned the world's only ban on female motorists.

The much-trumpeted move is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plan to modernise the conservative petrostate - but it has been dented by the jailing of female activists who long opposed the driving ban.

However, much of the initial optimism over Prince Mohammed's reforms appears to have been knocked by a major crackdown on women driving activists.

Authorities have said nine of 17 arrested people remain behind bars, accused of undermining security and aiding enemies of the state.

The detainees include 28-year-old Loujain al-Hathloul - also held in 2014 for more than 70 days for attempting to drive from neighbouring United Arab Emirates to Saudi Arabia - and Aziza al-Yousef, a retired professor at Riyadh's King Saud University.