Khloe Kardashian’s ‘Habibi’ Photo: Reality Star Angers Fans By Wearing A Niqab
Khloe Kardashian is known to stir up some controversy, but not quite like this. The reality star has been enjoying her trip in Dubia. She wanted to pay her respects by wearing a Muslim niqab.
Kardashian, 30, took to Instagram to share a selfie of herself in the traditional Muslim headgear. She included the caption: “Habibi love.”
The photo shows Khloe’s head and neck covered up in the niqab. Note that some media outlets use the word hijab, when Khloe is actually wearing a niqab. As you can see in the chart below, a niqab is a veil that covers the woman’s mouth and nose. It also has a small opening for the eyes. A hijab is a headscarf, not a veil. Only the woman’s face is visible, as it hides the hair, ears and neck. There’s a clear difference between a niqab and a hijab.
Now Kardashian is coming under fire for sharing the photo. Fans slammed her for wearing a niqab. Some said that it was offensive for Kardashian to take a selfie of herserlf in the garment. Fans argued that she was “taking away the meaning of what our niqab holds for a selfie.” Meanwhile, other fans argued that Kardashian is respecting Dubai’s traditional customs and the niqab suits her well.
“Women getting killed and beaten up for wearing the niqab, but you keep pretending it’s a fashion accessory, the disrespect.”
“I have never been more offended in my whole entire life. My sister wears the niqab and she gets vilified daily. You can wear it and it gets sexualised and praised. I am deeply offended and was a fan of yours, I am disgusted.”
“I am from Dubai. And I know that she doesn’t have to wear it and we emirates wear it ourselves in a way to make it look fashionable. Plus I’m a local here and I don’t feel offended.”
“It’s not offensive she is just showing respect. And looking great doing it.”
“She is in Dubai where it is respectful to cover up! And her boyfriend is a Muslim so she is probably just trying to make a good impression.”
Some fans also slammed Khloe’s caption underneath her photo. It appears that she used the term “habibi” incorrectly. Not to mention, she also spelled it wrong. According to Al Arabiya News, “Habiby” is an Arabic term of endearment that means “my love.” It doesn’t make sense for Khloe to write love twice. Some users noted that Khloe may have confused the word “habibi” with the word “hijab.” Nevertheless, she got it all wrong with this selfie.
One user exclaimed, “Her caption doesn’t make any sense! P.S. Wearing hijab/niqab is for the pious and pure women of Islam!”
This isn’t the first time that Khloe Kardashian has received criticism for disrespecting a culture. In a previous episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, she exclaimed that she had no idea as to why Scott Disick’s Arabian Halloween costume was offensive. To top it off, she shared a photo of herself with Scott with the caption: “Sheik P***y.”
Khloe received most of the criticism after sharing the photo on Instagram. Some of her fans called the photo “insensitive” and “offensive.” After talking to two of her Muslim DASH employees about the photo, Khloe realized that she needed to be more sensitive about what she posts on social media.
“After talking with Nazy and Durrani, I’m really upset that I’ve offended anybody. I’m even more bothered that the commenters think I’m poking fun at their culture. I didn’t realise how offensive it was. I didn’t know I was doing anything wrong. I really just have to be more aware of what I write, even if I think it’s tongue in cheek and I have to be more sensitive to that. I’m sorry to anybody I offended. That was the last thing I ever wanted to do.”
This time around, it looks like Khloe was paying her respects as she visited the country of Dubai. What are your thoughts about Khloe Kardashian’s niqab selfie? Did you find it offensive?
[Image: Khloe Kardashian/Instagram]
