Saudi Government Draws Ire For Allowing Glamorous Vogue Photoshoot in Medina

The Saudi edition of Vogue created outrage last Tuesday as it released its latest photographs series “24 hours in Al Ula”.

Featuring top models like Kate Moss donning skintight black dresses with thigh-high cuts, the photoshoot was conducted on the heritage site of Al-Ula in the holy province of Medina.

“Saudi Arabia authorises a steamy photoshoot by Vogue Arabia in a Medina province, while they detain women’s rights activists, including Loujain al-Hathloul, who campaigned against the driving ban imposed on women,” said a Twitter user after the video of the shoot went viral.

Another added, “Nothing to see here. Just a women rights defender who was detained and tortured for driving in Saudi Arabia. And a @voguemagazine model who is lying semi-nude in AlUla for a photoshoot. MBS is the biggest hypocrite.”

As per reports, the Saudi government authorized the shoot to take place near the city of Medina, second biggest holy city for Muslims and at the behest of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, to establish a ‘modernized’ and ‘progressive’ image of the country. Critics accused MbS of carrying out human rights violations and glossing the image of the country with such actions that hurt the Muslim sentiments.

Al-Ula is a UNESCO declared heritage site which is termed as ‘world’s largest open-air museum’ for his carved up rock structures. The models featured in the glamorous photoshoot included Kate Moss, Mariacarla Boscono, Candice Swanepoel, Jourdan Dunn, Amber Valletta, Xiao Wen and Alek Wek.

“Saudi Arabia allows raunchy Vogue photoshoot of international supermodels within the historical site of Al-Ula in the province of Madina. This is a half-naked and sexually provocative photoshoot. Doesn’t know how many surprises Saudi Arabia give in future,” a Twitter user voiced the shock.