Smriti Irani visits holy Madinah without headscarf; big praise and criticism on social media

Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani on Monday visited one of Islam’s holiest cities Madinah and it didn’t bode well with many of the religion's staunch followers. A delegation led by the minister also included Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan who visited the Quba mosque and its premises which is considered as the first mosque in Islam religion. The press release stated that the delegation toured the Prophet’s Mosque (Al Masjid Al Nabwi) in the Markazia area of Madinah. The visit also marks the successful bilateral haj agreement between the two countries as Saudi will allow 175,025 pilgrims from India for the next pilgrimage season.

Many on social platform X scoffed at the minister’s lack of comportment for not adhering to the rules of the country. Madinah being the holiest city of Islam conforms to a strict dress code for women. Headscarves or purdah are followed rigoursly here and even foreigners would have to acclimatize to this while being on visit.

Interestingly, most of the criticisms came from neighbouring Pakistan as many incensed netizens condemned Hindu women visiting near the holiest shrine and that too without a headscarf.

“Oh followers of Shaytan you made a grave mistake by letting filthy najs mushrik in the land of our Beloved master messenger of the Lord of Heavens and earth. Only Allah swt will provide you justice for this treachery. We left this matter to most Just swt” This was one post that ridiculed the minister's visit to the Madinah city.

Some even denounced Saudi Arabia’s recent liberal changes in society and blamed MBS for the downfall of the country's core ethos. Amidst the hullabaloo, Indian authors and journalists heaped praise on Minister Irani for wearing a traditional saree and adorning Bindi while being at Islam’s holiest pilgrimage site. Many called this a huge change and credited MBS for providing the landscape for Saudi to cope with the changing world.

Award-winning author Taslima Nasreen congratulated Minister Smriti Irani for not wearing a headscarf like other female visitors and asked her to visit the green dome of the prophet.

I salute Smriti Irani for not wearing headscarf like other female visitors in Saudi Arabia. She should visit the green dome, the tomb of the prophet. #SaudiArabia #BreakingTheTaboo

— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) January 9, 2024