The singer was asked to leave the premises, after posing in a series of shots dressed from head-to-toe in black.
Staff at the mosque, designed to hold over 40,000 people, asked the Rude Boy singer to leave after her actions were considered to be at odds with the sanctity of the site.
'Behaviour that violates the moral codes of access such as taking inappropriate pictures.. the violators are directed in a polite manner'
The staff released a statement following the incident, although they did not mention the 25-year-old.
'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,' the statement read.
Cultural expert Ali Al Saloom, the founder of AskAli.com, explained:
'I feel disappointed that she shared photos on Instagram that are inappropriate to the values of our religion and our Arab tradition, which values modesty and respect to the most important venue that has our father of the nation HH Sheikh Zayed’s graveyard. A mosque is not to be seen as a fun place, nor is it a place for filming fashion.’
'In all of the pics she is dressed from head to toe.'
But Nasif Kayed from the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Understanding said:
'In all of the pics she is dressed from head to toe.
'What is offensive about them? I’m sure that she was given the permission to be photographed in the manner in which she was. While each and all has their own opinion, in my opinion nothing in the photos is offensive.'
Twitter uses were divided over the incident, with one user writing:
'Are these photos serious? I can't believe she is this wrapped up into her own 'looks' that she poses at a place like this. A place which represents the opposite of what she represents.'
However another tweeted:
'I don’t see how Rihanna posing adjacent to a mosque in Abu Dhabi is disrespectful. If anything she’s showing respect by supporting the hijab.'
Rihanna hasn’t responded to the backlash, performing in a head-to-toe white outfit for the Abu Dhabi leg of her Diamonds world tour yesterday.
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