THERE has been talk on Twitter as to whether Michelle Obama was making a statement by not wearing a headscarf while on a visit to Saudi Arabia.

While Ms Obama’s arms and legs were fully covered, many Saudis tweeted calling her immodest.

Women in Saudi Arabia are expected to cover their heads and many wear a niqab.

The Saudi journalist and academic Najah Al-Osaimi told the Today programme’s Mishal Husain that ‘many things have changed in Saudi’.

A foreign woman could come to Saudi Arabia and not to wear a headscarf, she said.

But in my opinion she should have conformed to the values and the principles of the country and should have worn a scarf.

It would have shown respect to the Muslim community.

Cllr Salim Mulla, Blackburn (via email)