Saudi Woman Who Read News Without Headscarf Sparks Outrage

A female newsreader has caused outrage in Saudi Arabia after she
became the first person to read the news without a headscarf.

The Independent reports that the unnamed TV anchor was not in Saudi
Arabia and was broadcasting from the Al Ekhbariya studios in London
but added that "we do not tolerate any transgression of our values and
the country's systems."

While some women are occasionally seen on state television without a
headscarf, newsreaders are always covered up with a hijab.

Islamic dress codes require women to wear headscarves and veils.

Although, how much women are covered up differs across Saudi Arabia.
In the conservative capital Riyadh women wear a full veil (niqab),
while in more relaxed cities like Jeddah, woman opt simply for a
hijab.

The social media outrage was split in Saudi Arabia between those who
felt the anchor was showing disrespect to others who felt that the
incident might help progress women's rights in the country.

Although women's rights are getting more attention now, with more
women than before joining the workforce, a huge gap still exists in
restrictions on women compared to other parts of the world. In Saudi,
women are banned from driving.