The British ambassador to Algeria has been criticised after he was photographed wearing shorts while visiting a mosque.
Andrew Noble also wore the immodest clothing to a zaouia, or Islamic religious school, in al-Hamel, a small town 180 miles southeast of the capital, Algiers.
Pictures of the diplomat in a T-shirt and cargo shorts upset Algerians, who accused him on social media of being disrespectful to Islam. “Could the British ambassador imagine visiting the Pope with naked hips?” wrote Hakim Setouane on Facebook. He also berated the local sheikh for “allowing himself to be humiliated” by failing to demand that Mr Noble wore more appropriate clothes. He added: “I’m worried the ambassador might show up next time wearing boxer shorts or a swimsuit.” Other posts on the embassy’s Facebook page called it a shame, a disaster and a humiliation.
Modest dress codes are enforced in Islamic buildings and shorts are not permitted. In the more conservative parts of north Africa it is considered inappropriate for men to wear shorts in public at any time.
Others defended Mr Noble, pointing out that the main focus of his visit was the religious school. “There are many who pray in mosques in shorts, sometimes above the knee!” Azeddine Foura wrote. Another asked when “this nonsense” would end.
The British embassy did not comment.
