Selena Gomez Displays Ankle In Mosque, Muslims Outraged

Selena Gomez exposed her ankle while visiting a mosque in Abu Dhabi. The seemingly innocent action has some Muslims outraged.

Strict rules are imposed when inside a mosque that applies to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This includes any form of intimate behavior, such as kissing, hugging, and holding hands. Women must also be appropriately dressed and wear ankle-length skirts.

In a photo uploaded on Gomez’s Instagram, the 22-year-old pop sensation is seen posing next to a sheikh inside Abu Dhabi’s Grand Mosque. She is also sticking out her right foot, which exposes her bare ankle.

A second pic has also been released and shows Gomez in a company of other Hollywood notables, including Cody Simpson, Shay Mitchell, and Kendall Jenner. In the group photo taken outside the mosque, everyone is seen making funny faces and hand gestures.

Now ankle-rage in hijab: Selena Gomez sparks anger for displaying her ANKLES during visit to mosque http://t.co/ynMcWGETF6 via @MailOnline

— Ms_Eastern (@ms_eastern) January 1, 2015

Several commenters have now come forward and lambasted Gomez and company for the pics. Some have used the term “disrespectful” to describe Gomez’s behavior. One person made the following remarks to sum up his sentiments:

“If their intent was to learn about Islam they wouldn’t be posing like they were standing outside an amusement park.”

Another person wrote:

“I like Selena Gomez but to have her do something like this makes me no longer a fan.”

Selena Gomez and her ankle exposition isn’t the first time a celebrity has caused controversy around a mosque. In 2013, Rihanna posed outside a mosque for a series of photoshoots while dressed in a jumpsuit and a hijab. The singer was quickly told to leave the premise for her “inappropriate” conduct.

As for Selena Gomez, this isn’t the first time she stirred the cultural pot. Back in 2013, she angered some in the Indian community for wearing a bindi on her forehead during some of her public performances and appearances. The bindi has religious connotations, and Gomez was accused of cultural appropriation for treating the item as a fashion accessory.

So what do you think? Was Selena Gomez showing her ankle a blatant disrespect to Muslims or are people too easily offended these days?

[photo credit: Loren Javier]

Selena Gomez Displays Ankle In Mosque, Muslims Outraged