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Bikinis and mini-skirts may be commonplace in the Western world, but the Middle-East is a slightly different story. Countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran enforce strict modesty laws on women in keeping with Islamic tradition, and prohibit any skin other than the face and hands from showing. These restrictions even apply to Britney and Madonna, as it turns out.
Wearing sexy, revealing clothing is a great way to sell pretty much anything in North America. When these steamy images make their way into Islamic territories via media and advertisements, however, they're required to be toned down before they can be released to the public. In most cases, religious police in charge of censorship - known as mutaween - just take a big old Sharpie to Mariah's midriff or Shakira's shoulders. Recently, however, they've started to get a little creative with Photoshop, and even made headlines last week for replacing a woman in a pool ad with a beach ball. A+ for effort!
Check out the best, the worst, and the funniest edited images for sensitive audiences below, and just try to tell us that J-Lo isn't totally rocking those permanent marker pants.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Christina Aguilera - Lotus
Shauday Smith 8 years ago
aside from the terrible photoshop skills, i also agree that her original concept would have been better with more lotus petals..
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Moriah Van't Land 4 years ago
🌸.+Because the original was to revealing for kids!+.🌸
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Brontosonto 8 years ago
It's not about better or not better, good taste or bad taste, it's about the muslim censorship. If you don't like, don't buy it, but nobody has to say to me what can I see and what can't I.
Sam AE 8 years ago
you live in your own country you have some rules you like or don't but you choose to stay, it is the same in Iran Saudia etc countries they have rules people like them they follow and abide the law... what's the problem there?
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#2
Mariah Carey - #1's
Clare McDuff 8 years ago
This doesn't seem right. So much more of her pussy is showing in the second pic 😹
nameme the undieing 8 years ago
the cat is a alien monster slowly consuming her body he has constricted his body around her like I python by the time they got to the mid east by the time they reach china it will be all cat
#3
Pool Ad
Valentina 8 years ago
So...in the Middle East it is OK for Winny the Pooh to marry Barney and adopt/have 3 surrogate kids! Legendary!!
Valerie Treichel 8 years ago
What happened to mom?? Sorry kids...I divorced her and replaced her with a blow up doll.
Debbie Detmer 8 years ago
Why is it so wrong for the mom to be able to join the family in the pool? Why not just cover her up like the rest of the family?
M O'Connell 8 years ago
There used to be similar laws on the books in the western world. Then a handful of men learned how a woman's period actually works.
Load More Replies... nameme the undieing 8 years ago
no no that not the middle east that's Disney the mothers all get killed off and merchandise must be on screen
#4
Shakira - Oral Fixation
Jose Baeyens 8 years ago
They obviously didn't have a problem with the naked baby....oh yeah that's right, thry don't....
Sarah Wilson 8 years ago
hahaha this made me laugh, she is like some kind of pod person, that old movie, cant remember the name
#5
Justin Bieber - Purpose
ADHORTATOR 8 years ago
now he only has to jump....and it would be perfect
Load More Replies... nameme the undieing 8 years ago
the less Justin the better but we shouldn't be surprised they would censor a topless girl
#6
Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again
IAmTheRealTimbo 8 years ago
Knock knock Who's there Knock knock Who's there?? Oops, I did it again
#7
Christina Aguilera - Stripped
Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
Kinda makes her look like a square shape. I guess pants would have still shown off the shape of her legs...
Margie Lazou 8 years ago
seeing as i don't see the reason for either types of clothing to exist or to not to, makes little sense to me either way. not horrible photoshop job either.
#8
Lady Gaga - Do What U Want
Moriah Van't Land 4 years ago
🌸.+It was their mistake not to cover her skin+.🌸
Load More Replies... Allana Rose 8 years ago
Showing your bare a*s in public should be a naughty things. Why show all your goodies? A little mystery is a good thing.
Angie Hamilton 8 years ago
These so-called stars, they are famous hooker? Or what? Im so confused LOL
#9
Nirvana - Nevermind
didi 8 years ago
I have 2 cassette tapes of this album from the early 90s in Saudi: one with white shorts and the other with black ones!
Zenozenobee 8 years ago
It's pretty weird when religious guys think that a baby's penis is sexy...
Molly Block 8 years ago
AHAHAHAHAHAHA! This is awful! But I also hated the original, the little baby's ding dong, damn.......but a black diaper?!!!! Why didn't they make it white?!! It looks like a black hammock!
endelbendel 8 years ago
Concept is funny and wise. Black blob in second is a distraction, bad design.
#10
Miley Cyrus - Bangerz
Melissa Nunya 8 years ago
To be fair in the last few months she has toned it way down
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Xavera Lucia 8 years ago
Kinda look like Jared Leto's Joker, but with different lipstick color
Molly Block 8 years ago
I hated the cheap amateurish look of this album cover. It looked so unprofessional, like it was done by a 5th grader.
James Green 7 years ago
When I worked in Saudi Arabia I saw that the Tom & Jerry Show was censored where one cartoon character kissed another! In a TV drama, a Father and daughter would be cut out if they embraced! In the newspapers, pictures of sportswomen would have their elbows and knees inked over (censorship is a major industry).
#11
Mariah Carey - Butterfly
Tamira Lasky 8 years ago
You caught the right shoulder too, huh? (Our left)
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#12
Britney Spears Greatest Hits: My Prerogative
Kristi Zoebelein 8 years ago
LOL I actually like theirs better. She looks...plastic in the other one.
Sabina Draws 8 years ago
people have just started learning photoshop back then and we can clearly see it
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nameme the undieing 8 years ago
America Britney's greatest hits the east zathras good at doings not good at understandings
#13
Jennifer Paige - Jennifer Paige
M O'Connell 8 years ago
At least it's done better than many of the others. And it's a legit style. I probably wouldn't have noticed.
makki 8 years ago
It's revealing it's pushing it by just showing her arms
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Szucs Zsuzsanna 8 years ago
Actually this one looks better after photoshop. This is her colour.
#14
Rihanna's Perfume Ad In Kuwait
#15
Lady Gaga - Artpop
GlassOfWater 8 years ago
imo this one needed censoring. I wouldn't want one of my kids to pick this album up.
Angie Hamilton 8 years ago
Admit it, inside of gaga's heart, what she really wanna do is become a whore LOL
Cathy Binder 8 years ago
everyone, write something about balls, big, blue, and gaga. the winner gets an imaginary prize.
Lyone Fein 8 years ago
OMG, you can still see that she's Jewish. How can they even sell this in Saudi Arabia? They don't allow Jews into the country.
#16
Riana Grande - My Everything
Diana Wolf 8 years ago
Lol, never noticed, but that shoe does look about 4 sizes too large! Lol
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Margie Lazou 8 years ago
I wish they could fix her everything instead, it's already a bad photoshop job over a bad modeling job. the black things on top are practically an improvement...
#17
Censored Floaties In Saudi Arabia
Zenozenobee 8 years ago
OMG! they forgot too ink a lady's face on the top line!!!! people are going to see a woman's face!!!!
nameme the undieing 8 years ago
odd shadow creatures from a nether realm are medaling with human children is pools I don't like it shadow beasts should be deported and we should build a wall in front of the shadow portal
Jess Gore 8 years ago
I was thinking CD covers for a metal band, but dementors works too!!
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Donna Oades 8 years ago
Is anyone else feeling more and more angry the further they get on this post? I can't believe how many women have been blacked out on this one, yet it's ok to have the kids not blacked out, even though they're wearing normal swimsuits. It's so oppressive and sexist!
Lilly Streamblood 8 years ago
No wonder they rape and molest everything upon arriving to Europe... Damn, we actually have women walking around without garbage bags on them....
Kate Brannan 8 years ago
I.e. m. East= undersexed, West= oversexed. Both ways are Equally offensive to me x
adoracat 8 years ago
I think there's nothing wrong with modesty. ENFORCED covering-up is another thing entirely.
Load More Replies... Sarah Wilson 8 years ago
Again why the blackout on the mothers?? They do realize it takes a woman to have a child right? So backwards :/
#18
Lady Gaga - The Remix
Natalia Sanchez 8 years ago
I imagined they'd add a sandwich poster board on her or something, this is kind of a disappointment...
Linda Gulley 8 years ago
What happened to all her money? Why can't she get clothes? I know the meat spoiled, but still...
#19
Gisele Bundchen's H&M Ad Campaign Censored For Middle East
Dima Less 8 years ago
Lol, can someone please explain me why make an Ad campaign for the countries where nobody will be allowed to wear this s**t?
Dima Less 8 years ago
Combine with other clothes? Ahah, like they combined them on these pictures? Completely ruining the design and the whole beauty of the dress. Good job! Spend your entire life dressing up for one man only, who most of the time won't give a s**t anyway - that's a sad life, really. I pity their women.
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Sarah Wilson 8 years ago
I am confused as to what part offends the "men"? Is it armpits? Shoulders? Decolletage maybe? Oops nope I see Giselle's shoulders in the one the tank was added. It is all so confusing ....
Diana Wolf 8 years ago
they wear it, only under the abaya. They are half nekid under it, and take it off and show off just only in front of other women
#20
Madonna - Hard Candy
Alexandra S 8 years ago
I'd like to point out that they removed the cross from around her neck. Fascinating!
Janet Davis 8 years ago
They did it to disrespect the Christian religion...but they did us a favor, madonna shouldn't be wearing crosses.
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#21
Toni Braxton - More Than A Woman
Bianka Nagy 8 years ago
More than a woman, less than a man, apparently... go ahead, give me all the thumbs down :)
#22
Mariah Carey - The Art Of Letting Go
#23
Kylie Minogue - Light Years
#24
Geri Halliwell - Scream If You Wanna Go Faster
Shauday Smith 8 years ago
my question is... how is this more modest? i mean, the skin isn't exposed, but it's still very form fitting unitard they 'shopped her into.
Natasha Word 8 years ago
I think what we should question is why is the West so obsessed with sexualizing everything and why everything is half naked. Rather than scrutinizing their need to cover up! Freedom of expression yes, but damn.
Lily Mae Kitty 8 years ago
omg, that is one of the very worst covers I have ever seen. how did she even ok that?! (and I do mean the original one)
#25
Jennifer Lopez - On The 6
Diana Wolf 8 years ago
They have ppl that go through magazines with black marker and censor stuff ( they did -manually 20 years ago)
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#26
Melanie B - Hot
#27
Shakira - Shakira
Kate Brannan 8 years ago
Sad that the West are used to our female artists looking so seductive on their album covers. Its normal to us, which i personally think is not good, as the other way is normal to them. Who is wrong? Isnt it meant to be about the music ppl?!?
Wendy Yim-Wong 8 years ago
why don't they just do that every time instead of covering the body lol
#28
Mariah Carey - #1's
Sarah Wilson 8 years ago
Bahahaha she looks like an ad for those old Simplicity dress patterns LOL
#29
Back Cover Of Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now'
Patricie Sh. 8 years ago
In Asia and Africa contrast and mix of different bold colours is what they call pretty. ;) https://www.google.cz/search?q=africa+clothing&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiXj6qX-73UAhWJ2BoKHTyXBiUQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=662
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#30
Gloria Estefan - Abriendo Puertas
Zenozenobee 8 years ago
Come on! the original one was way less provocative than the Lady Gaga remix cover after they added strips!
Meowton Mewsk 8 years ago
It's older. Things got 5% more relaxed in the last 25 years.
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Dave Scott 8 years ago
What an anally retentive bunch of bozos...Kindly stay in your own country where you can feel free to practise your brand of repressive "religion' to your censored little hearts' content. No wonder you're willing to blow yourselves up..
Kikka io 8 years ago
But what was provocative? And anyway they do not seem to have changed a lot. The ridiculous touches
#31
Mariah Carey - Glitter
#32
Katy Perry - One Of The Boys
Vickie Martin 8 years ago
No kidding...she can kiss a girl and like it but not be seen in shorts ahahaha
Barbara Velthuysen 8 years ago
Aren't those fake copies? The covering is so badly done in most cases.
Beverly Glover 8 years ago
Both outfits were made totally unwearable. Nobody would be seen in them now.
#33
Toni Braxton - The Heat
#34
Clarks Ad In Kuwait On The Left (It Is Allowed To Show Knees And Women Without A Headscarf) And In Saudi Arabia On The Right (It's Not Allowed)
Sandra Salviato 8 years ago
So it basically shows that in Saudi Arabia, women cannot be confident...
Moriah Van't Land 4 years ago
🌸.+They are only confident to be evil and be ashamed of themselves+.🌸
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Moriah Van't Land 4 years ago
🌸.+A woman's hair are greasy black snakes+.🌸
Load More Replies... #35
Sex Pistols - Flogging A Dead Horse
Sarah Lennie 8 years ago
That was an old album, I doubt they'd even sell that album in most middle eastern countries these days.
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#36
Britney Spears - Circus
Kate Brannan 8 years ago
Why the need to look so sexual tho. All the female album covers look like the front of pornos. I think we have to look at our own society before we judge others x
Wendy Yim-Wong 8 years ago
wow all her originalson are so photos hopped in the first place, it doesn't matter
#37
Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey
Samantha Beckett 8 years ago
If they're going to photoshop the c**p out of everything at lease they could find some people who don't suck at it.
#38
Shakira - Laundry Service
Kate Brannan 8 years ago
Strange that women in the music business have to get their baps out and show this much skin when thr same isnt expected of men. Not saying skin censorship is the way, however. We need to ask ourselves, why? Oh yeah, sex sells. And i thought that it was the music which spoke for itself. Obv im muchos wrong, wrong, wrong xx
#39
Mariah Carey - Rainbow
Griselle Lugo 8 years ago
She is still in the bed looking like "I'm waiting for you to join me"!!
Kate Brannan 8 years ago
I think the provocative stance here says more than the skin, myself. Yet this just proves that covering chest and legs is a cultural.norm and not a censorship issue. Enuf said x
#40
Rihanna - Unapologetic
tigertae 8 years ago
I seriously dont get it. Nothing changed except the color of the skin. They put a black thing over it... what the f**k man i just.... like.... why is skin color soooo offensive to them. I seriously dont get it 😂
Donna Oades 8 years ago
They've just coloured it in with a marker I think.
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Britney Spears - Britney
#42
This Huge Advertisement With Blurred Woman's Face In A Mall Of Jeddah
Iris Omri-Engler 8 years ago
With all respect for other cultures and religions that is ridiculous. She has clothes they don't show her body in any provocative way I don't understand the need to do that
Ilgıt Yıldırım 8 years ago
Some people might find her face beautiful which is enough for their thinking! Who knows perhaps no body wanted to see a someone raping the billboard!
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Sarah Lennie 8 years ago
Yet apparently, according to some, Islam is a feminist religion. Puh-lease...
Lilly Streamblood 8 years ago
I don't understand, if woman is "taboo" then why is girl allowed? I they f*****g take child-brides! Clearly, little girl should be also blurred out then. I know lots will get all rapey over her...
Eva Duskova 8 years ago
In some countries,women aren't allowed. Highest level of retardation. I mean respect to other cultures,but not to disrespectful cultures.
Tennille Johnston 8 years ago
Jeddha is in Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia women wear a niquab to cover the face. Only the eyes and hands are meant to be seen. So they blurred out the face of the woman.
Load More Replies... Mike Schneider 8 years ago
This is what you get when you make your women watch unmarked vhs tapes.
Bruce Kunde 8 years ago
how can women in America be for open borders, and and take campaign money from these countries?
#43
Shakira - She Wolf
Martin 8 years ago
Only the western world has a bug up its a**e about using oriental to describe asians
Load More Replies... Genevieve Gates 8 years ago
Every single Shakira cover is changed to a close up of her face. It's like no one dares photoshop clothes on to her.
#44
Censored Marie Claire Magazine In Saudi Arabia
Lyone Fein 8 years ago
Really, like these "cover ups" actually change anything.
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#45
Solid Harmonie - I'll Be There For You
Hallak65 8 years ago
Give a like, if you heard about this band before. Only 90s kids will remember :D
#46
Tlc - Unpretty
Kate Brannan 8 years ago
This is the first iv ever heard about this Sharpie form of fashiom. Maybe its cos... As long as the records are getting sold, no artist actually really minds. Lesson learned= money is the real religion of the masses x
Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl) 8 years ago
I believe there is an army of sharpie welding prude.. uh... men that censor all incoming stuff.
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#47
Demi Lovato - Demi
Moriah Van't Land 4 years ago
🌸.+Because they hate Christians! I am a Christian and I think women are evil!+.🌸
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Mariah Carey - Emotions
Adeline Jackson 8 years ago
Look closely, they not only darkened it to keep her her in shadow, but they widened the dress so you don't see the shapely hips..... lol
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Eness Koudrevi 8 years ago
fkkkkkkkkk this s**t gave me more pain in the a*s than eveeeeer ! fkerrrz
#49
Hasna - Bamba
George Perrin 8 years ago
Legit question, and I don't mean to be crass but where does someone find porn in Saudi Arabia, and what does it look like?
Margie Lazou 8 years ago
might wanna check the darknet... don't be surprised to find lots of child molestation though.
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What do you think ?
MidS 8 years ago
This is interesting. I've lived in Dubai all my life and this never happens here. Our tabloids are filled with pictures you'd deem 'westernized'. I find the title misleading. Not every Middle East country is like this.
Jkcanewton 8 years ago
I see the covers, but what about the lyrics? They are just as bad sometimes. I'm really surprised that some of these are even sold there.
Adam Havlík 8 years ago
Hanzo, all I meant was that the English lyrics might not be considered as offensive as these images because English isn't a first language there. Most of the world sings English-language songs they don't necessarily understand - I see it here in the Czech Republic every day...
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Cindy Martinson 8 years ago
Although i don't agree with such a degred of censorship it does remove some if not most of the objectification of woman. The objectification of any living creature is disgusting.
Rivkaka 8 years ago
One of the women is literally morphed into a beachball. A beachball = a woman seems like the literal definition of objectification....
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Mars 8 years ago
all this has done is made me realise how popstars feel the need to dress provocatively to sell
nuttyballoon 8 years ago
An improvement for the world of pop music. Let the music sell itself!
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Naima Ivansdóttir 8 years ago
mariah carey's already SO shopped you can barely notice the differences :D
Maciek Ravs 8 years ago
This article is somehow biased.. 90 % of it is about some naked shallow pop stars.. Most people are tierd of them anyway.. Show how regular women are totally cuted out from public apparence like in the case of IKEA catalogue.
Maciek Ravs 8 years ago
http://www.marcelgagne.com/content/ikea-and-starbucks-bow-down-islamic-misogyny
Load More Replies... José Alejandro Díaz Bravo 8 years ago
That made me think... why so many women skin in music album covers? isn't those about music?
Rosa Greyhound 8 years ago
Because to put it simply, skin sells. It's worse with women but often you will see a shirtless man on album covers e.g. Justin Bieber
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Amy Tarleton 8 years ago
I'm all for free speech and expression, but MODEST IS HOTTEST. The photoshops are ridiculous, but yay for modesty.
Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
Solomon the wise said it once, those who hate women's body are in love with guys.
MidS 8 years ago
This is interesting. I've lived in Dubai all my life and this never happens here. Our tabloids are filled with pictures you'd deem 'westernized'. I find the title misleading. Not every Middle East country is like this.
Jkcanewton 8 years ago
I see the covers, but what about the lyrics? They are just as bad sometimes. I'm really surprised that some of these are even sold there.
Adam Havlík 8 years ago
Hanzo, all I meant was that the English lyrics might not be considered as offensive as these images because English isn't a first language there. Most of the world sings English-language songs they don't necessarily understand - I see it here in the Czech Republic every day...
Load More Replies... Cindy Martinson 8 years ago
Although i don't agree with such a degred of censorship it does remove some if not most of the objectification of woman. The objectification of any living creature is disgusting.
Rivkaka 8 years ago
One of the women is literally morphed into a beachball. A beachball = a woman seems like the literal definition of objectification....
Load More Replies... Mars 8 years ago
all this has done is made me realise how popstars feel the need to dress provocatively to sell
nuttyballoon 8 years ago
An improvement for the world of pop music. Let the music sell itself!
Load More Replies... Naima Ivansdóttir 8 years ago
mariah carey's already SO shopped you can barely notice the differences :D
Maciek Ravs 8 years ago
This article is somehow biased.. 90 % of it is about some naked shallow pop stars.. Most people are tierd of them anyway.. Show how regular women are totally cuted out from public apparence like in the case of IKEA catalogue.
Maciek Ravs 8 years ago
http://www.marcelgagne.com/content/ikea-and-starbucks-bow-down-islamic-misogyny
Load More Replies... José Alejandro Díaz Bravo 8 years ago
That made me think... why so many women skin in music album covers? isn't those about music?
Rosa Greyhound 8 years ago
Because to put it simply, skin sells. It's worse with women but often you will see a shirtless man on album covers e.g. Justin Bieber
Load More Replies... Amy Tarleton 8 years ago
I'm all for free speech and expression, but MODEST IS HOTTEST. The photoshops are ridiculous, but yay for modesty.
Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
Solomon the wise said it once, those who hate women's body are in love with guys.
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