: Not Black Enough? Saudis Confiscate “Revealing” Abayas

Saudi authorities have confiscated 82,000 abayas, the black head-to-toe gowns worn by all Saudi women, for being too highly decorated or too revealing. The Ministry of Commerce confiscated the gowns from stores and factories after inspections in the capital, Riyadh, and the Red Sea port city of Jiddah. Inspectors took away garments found not in conformance with Islamic law, al-Jazeera daily newspaper reported Sunday. The abayas were not plain and opaque or they were provocatively clinging, it said. This move appears to be one of a string of events aimed at preventing Saudi men from being unduly tempted, the last one being Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah request that the US not have female flight controllers direct his flight during his recent visit to President Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas.