Did Saudi Arabia Prince Mohammed Bin Salman say that women can decide their clothes to wear? Know the truth.

An old statement of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman on women’s clothing has come to light on social media. According to the claim, Mohammed Bin Salman said that only Saudi Arabian women can decide what clothes the ladies of the nation can wear.

This has prompted many social media users to put forward their views. One user wrote, “Stree ko jo pehen na woh pehno. Yeh reform hai wahan jo 2024 main aaya (Women can wear whatever they want. This is a new reform that came in 2024)”

However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be misleading. Saudi Prince Mohammed Bin Salman didn’t say women can decide what to wear by themselves. He said that the decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear. 

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Fact Check- 

A relevant keyword search on Google led us to a report by DW in 2018. According to the report, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia has suggested a relaxation of the country’s conservative rules regarding women’s attire. He stated that women should have the freedom to choose their clothing, emphasizing that Shariah (Islamic law) requires only decent and respectful attire but he did not specify any particular dress code. While this indicates a possible shift in women’s rights, the emphasis on decency implies that there may still be restrictions on clothing choices.

Taking a clue from this, we searched for his interview with CBS. We found the transcription of his interview. During the interview he had said that extremists in Saudi Arabia enforce strict rules. He emphasizes that Islamic law only requires women to wear decent and respectful clothing, without specifying a particular dress code. His words were, “The laws are very clear and stipulated in the laws of Sharia: that women wear decent, respectful clothing, like men. This, however, does not particularly specify a black abaya or a black head cover. The decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire she chooses to wear.”

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found that the statement of Prince Mohammed bin Salman on women’s clothing that was shared is misleading. Mohammed bin Salman said that women need to wear decent and respectful clothes. The decision is entirely left for women to decide what type of decent and respectful attire they choose to wear.