Readers Weigh In On Merkel's Scarfless Middle East Tour

The following comments reflect the views of our readers. Not all reader comments have necessarily been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Why should she wear a head scarf when there is no law in Saudi Arabia which specifies its necessity for foreign women? Dozens of foreign diplomats who live here do not wear headscarves when they go out in public. Neither do foreign women journalists. Furthermore, it is not necessary. -- Raid Qusti, journalist from Saudi Arabia

Especially when foreigners in Germany are bound to follow "Christian values" which includes not wearing anything Asian in origin, the German chancellor should have reciprocated in the same way by adhering to Islamic traditions and worn a head scarf. Besides, it smacks of arrogance and a domineering attitude. -- Suvrajit Saha

Merkel began her tour Saturday in Egypt

Brava! Religious tolerance is a good precedent to set. -- Phillip Crist, US

I respect Merkel's decision. I don't believe this unreasonable Saudi law should be expected of her. As leader of Germany, her country does not impose her adorning a head scarf. Here in the States I have a neighbor who wears her traditional clothing according to her culture and I respect that choice for her. Here it is her "choice." I feel it is unreasonable for Saudi law to expect any foreign women to adhere to their legal stipulations on how to dress. -- Kathy Wittig, US

I agree with the relaxing of rules concerning her not wearing a head scarf when she visits Saudi Arabia, since it wouldn't be nice if she happened to be the one person who incurred the wrath of the police there. I think she has done the correct thing in not wearing the head scarf during her visit to that country. -- Timothy Patrick Doyle, Australia

The Israeli-Palestinian peace process is high on Merkel's agenda during the visit

The choice is yours, Chancellor Merkel. Islam is about unity, freedom and justice. The dress code is recommended in the context for protection against sand storms, insect bite, unstable body metabolism and so on. Every faith group may be prone to the forces of miscalculated thoughts and theories. -- Abbas Daramy-Bassey

I consider that, as diplomacy policy, there is no "must" for wearing the head scarf during Merkel's Arab tour, but as a friendly gesture it would be nice if she wore it as an act of cultural exchange -- not at all times but maybe on a special occasion. -- Jefrey Alexander Alvarado Padgett

Merkel's predecessor also chose not to wear a headscarf in Saudi Arabia

No self respecting Christian woman should cover her head for the sake of someone else's religious practice. However, since a socialist has no cultural or religious mores and thus acts out of political convenience and correctness, training German women to wear such garb might give them a sense of their Eurabian future. -- Del Hoeft

Way to go Angie! -- Harrison Parker

I think if Muslim people want to wear headscarves it is their deal. Nobody should be forced to wear one. Angela Merkel is not a Muslim: she should not cover her head. We don't make Muslims wear "Lederhosen," do we? -- Angela Riley

Say thank you to Chancellor Merkel that she fulfilled my expectations not to wear a scarf. It would have been very unlike her. She's the best politician Germany has had for a long time, she's the only one with any guts. -- Jette Jorgensen

In Saudi Arabia, women cannot appear in public unless covered head to toe

Chancellor Merkel is making a good decision. Everything she does abroad should be done from a standpoint of equal dignity. Besides, depending on a visitor's country of origin, we often see evidence of their decision to refuse to "do as Romans do." They most often bring their own culture and habits with them -- including dress, grooming, and dietary habits -- so why should western diplomats and heads of state be pressured to do otherwise? -- Gary

Good for her! I am glad Merkel is not covering her head. She is not a second class citizen just because she is a woman. Merkel is a Chancellor and those Saudis had better treat her as such. Just because Islam treats women like slaves does not mean the rest of the world has to. -- Morgan