Muslim TV Anchor Draws Flak For Calling Reporter Handsome On Air

A Kuwaiti Television anchor was suspended following passage of objectionable remarks on air. According to sources, the anchor, Basima Al-Shammar, was live on Al Arabiya English when she said, "No need to fix your gutra, Nawaf, you look handsome!" referring to a ground reporter, who seemed to be adjusting his gutra or traditional headgear before reporting the news on municipal elections in Kuwait.

The news anchor was suspended temporarily after she drew the flak of a Kuwaiti Member of Parliament, who raised objection to the incident on Twitter. However, the journalist dismissed the objections and termed her remark as a routine one.

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The video went viral on social media and several netizens condemned the anchor's remark. In the video, the news anchor used the word "maizyoon," which means "god-looking."

However, the anchor attributed her remark to customary Gulf etiquettes. "What happened is not a joke or something else. It is well known that the customs of communications in the Gulf is that when you see someone adjusting his attire, you tell him: you look good or handsome," she said.