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Saudi women have sparked a debate online after some called for the freedom to practice their faith in a way that resonates with them, in a new hashtag that gripped the kingdom's virtual world.
Due to the global phenomenon of patriarchy, states and societies have formed a standardised perception of the “ideal woman” based on their own socio-political bias and interpretations of faith.
In Saudi Arabia, all women are legally obliged to wear a loose fitting traditional dress called an abaya and covering of the head is mandatory in most parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the presence of Saudi Arabia's religious police operates as a quasi-police force with patrols in major cities, enforcing so-called religious decrees to make sure standards are sustained by society.
In a hashtag trending in Saudi Arabia, which translates to “so you can live happily”, one Saudi woman called Taraf al-Assiri posted a Snapchat video selfie of herself without her hijab.
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"I've had uncomfortable stares, and there was a time when a mother and daughter kept turning around to look at me rudely while I was on the train in north London", niqab wearer Nadia Choudhury told The New Arab.
I said to them: 'You don't have to be scared of me, I'm not an alien, just a normal woman like you,' to which the mother replied: 'Women are beautiful you shouldn't be covering it all up.'