An upcoming Iraqi parliamentary candidate has been lambasted for her excessive make-up and blonde hair.
Iraqis have been used to seeing female parliamentarians belonging to conservative Islamic parties cover up, either by wearing the hijab or the traditional black abaya.
Hopeful candidate for April’s elections, Ashwaq Talib al-Zughaibi from the Shia bloc, National Iraqi Alliance (NIA), took a different approach.
In her electoral campaign poster, Zughaibi hasn’t covered her blonde hair and wears bright pink lipstick.
Her lipstick, which matches the pink top underneath her suit, led many on social media to criticise her.
“I bet her shoes are also pink, matching with her lipstick and top,” one Facebook user said, while another said: “she will take all of Iraq’s budget to spend on make-up.”
Others responded in a much harsher way.
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“She looks stupid” said one user, while another said: “what qualifications does she have besides her looks?”
Others derided her look as overly unprofessional: “Is she a political candidate or a singer?” said one user.
Some defended her against the non-stop online abuse.
“How can you judge her? Have you seen her drink Arak (traditional alcoholic beverage) in Abu Nuwas (street in Baghdad known for its bars)?”
While another female user said: “I do not understand, in one instance you criticise those covered up and compare them to female parliamentarians from Russia and Ukraine, but when we have a groomed one, you also complain.”
Her poster had 821 views on Facebook since Thursday afternoon.
