White House adviser Ivanka Trump donned a hijab — a traditional head covering to show modesty — during a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday.
In the past, both Ivanka Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had declined to cover their heads while visiting Muslim countries — as in President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2017.
And for much of her visit this weekend to the United Arab Emirates, where she was the keynote speaker at the Global Women’s Forum, Ivanka Trump did not cover her head.
But in a visit to a mosque, a holy site, diplomatic protocol typically requires adherence to custom and decorum — as is the case for the holy sites of other faiths, such as the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where men of all faiths are expected to wear kippot or yarmulkes in accordance with Jewish tradition. At the Vatican, both Melania and Ivanka Trump covered their heads when meeting with Pope Francis.
Democrats Campaigning Against Their Own Congressional Nominee Who Happens to Be in Federal Prison
Boxing Legend Mike Tyson Delivers Controversial Letter to Trump, Makes Bold Midterm Prediction
Who is Sally Yates? Cornell rape-review pick was fired by Trump after refusing to defend travel ban
One Colorado County Is Trying to Write Energy Policy for Texas: SCOTUS Has a Chance to Shut It Down
Senate Republicans playing defense heading into Election Day
Jewish Democrats consider Republican Mike Rogers for Senate
Women, Want to Radically Increase the Chances Your Marriage Will Last? Take Your Husband’s Last Name: Study
Key American industry seeing blue-collar jobs boom as Trump’s re-shoring policies pay off
In Spain’s Ceuta, a delayed government response leaves underage migrants on the streets
Socialists set sights on the ground floor of government as GOP warns of bigger plan unfolding
Multiple people killed in Pennsylvania shooting; suspected gunman found dead: report
Philadelphia police officer killed, another critical after ambush attack; suspect found hiding in tree
Fetterman plays political maverick, but his voting record tells another story
Watch: Hockey Crowd Goes Wild When WWII Vet, 105, Who Fought Under Patton Performs Nat’l Anthem on ICE
Country Star Ella Langley Abruptly Cancels Concert over ‘Serious Security Threat’
In the Jewish faith, which Ivanka Trump shares, many married religious women also cover their heads out of modesty, especially in religious settings, though there is no Jewish equivalent of the Islamic veil.
In that context, Ivanka Trump’s visit to the mosque was also significant, as she is among the first Jewish people to be an honored guest of a kingdom that has been, until recently, cold toward Israel and Jews.
#إيفانكا_ترامب تزور #مسجد_الشيخ_زايد الكبير في #أبوظبي وتؤكد أن الجامع تحفة معمارية إسلامية رائعة من حيث الحداثة والتصميم #IvankaTrump#GWFD2020#البيان_القارئ_دائما pic.twitter.com/JA0ePP1atU
— صحيفة البيان (@AlBayanNews) February 16, 2020
The United Arab Emirates has, until recently, barred Israelis from entering the country, in a policy that has been described as antisemitic. However, relations are warming and those restrictions are being eased.
Ivanka Trump praised the United Arab Emirates for recent reforms that granted more freedom to women in the country, the AP reported.
Story cited here.
