Social media users in Saudi Arabia have been outraged after a woman was allowed to welcome the country’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Development to work.
The footage showing the woman welcoming the minister to the ministry’s main building by reciting a poem and then making a ululating cry was widely shared.
The incident caused outrage because women are not allowed to greet men unless they are from the same family in the conservative Kingdom.
Officials reportedly apologised, saying that the woman had been allowed to welcome Minister Ahmed bin Suleiman Al-Rajhi on the initiative of a lone official, who would be disciplined accordingly.
The footage shows the Saudi minister being welcomed by the wedding singer, named as Umm Ayedh, to the ministry, and it was widely shared on social media, where it reportedly caused controversy in the Kingdom, which is known for laws that discriminate against women.
Umm Ayedh is known locally as the ‘Queen of Weddings’ for her ululating calls, and she has defended her performance, despite it contradicting usual etiquette, by saying she is not interested in the criticism, as she had been given an official invitation from a ministry employee and that it was clear that what was expected was her usual performance.
The welcoming poem entitled ‘The Right Of Man’ was reportedly to mark International Men’s Day, which took place on 15th November.
Local media outlet Okaz said: “The circulating clip about a woman welcoming the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development while entering the main ministry building was an individual diligence of one of the employees, as he invited the woman without previously checking with the competent authority in the ministry, and action is being taken against the person responsible for this behaviour.”
Saudi Arabia is notorious for its restrictions placed on women, although in recent years, women have gradually been given more rights.
In 2018, the Kingdom lifted a ban on women driving. In August 2019, it allowed women to travel to foreign countries and to register a marriage or a divorce, as well as to apply for official documents without requiring the consent of a male guardian.
And in June 2021, the country began allowing women to live alone without requiring permission from a male guardian.
