PHOTOS Rihanna kicked out of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque for unapproved photo shoot
Lately, trouble follows Rihanna’s social media feed anywhere it goes…
First, the singer led to two men’s arrests by posting a picture with an endangered Southeastern Asia primate. She then tweeted about a Thai sex show, which caused local police to launch an investigation and eventually arrest another man. Finally, Riri stirred up a bit of trouble for herself when she held a Instagram photo shoot outside a mosque in the United Arab Emirates.
According to The National, Rihanna was asked to leave Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque after posting the pictures. Staff at the religious facility said her behavior was disrespectful to worshippers and did not “conform to conditions” put in place to protect the sanctity.
Officials from the mosque also released a statement following Rihanna’s visit.
The Centre strives to ensure that visitors enter the mosque in a decent fashion, and refrain from behaving in any way that is inconsistent with the sanctity of this religious place. In the event of behaviour that violates the moral codes of access to the mosque, or other visit regulations – such as taking inappropriate pictures, posing in ways that are improper in the context of sacred place, talking loudly, or eating – the violators are directed in a polite manner that reflects the civilisational and tolerant attributes of Islam. Usually, the visitors are appreciative of that.
The statement didn’t recognize Rihanna by name, but she was clearly called out.
Here, the Centre refers to a recent incident, involving a singer who came for a private visit to the mosque, at a gate that is not reserved for visitors, without prior coordination with the Centre’s management and without identifying herself… While the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre always welcomes visitors and tourists from all around the world, it also calls on everyone to adhere to the moral codes of access to the mosque and to its visit regulations, which the Centre always makes sure are clear to all its visitors throughout the day.
^Likely the most controversial photo from the set. Rihanna captioned it #notanlines.
After leaving the mosque, Rihanna performed at du Arena on Yas Island for her Diamonds World Tour. She wore an all-white outfit and hat that covered most of her skin… Seemingly out of cultural sensitivity.