Kim Kardashian, Tear-Gas and Milkshake in Bahrain · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

American socialite and TV reality star Kim Kardashian was in Bahrain yesterday to open a milkshake shop. Hardline Salafists protested her visit – and were dispersed by police.
Even before her visit, preachers were rallying people against her visit from the pulpits of mosques. On Friday, Suhail Algosaibi tweeted from the weekly Friday prayers [ar]:
الخطيب ينتقد زيارة كيم كرداشيان الى #البحرين و يصفها بالعاهرة…
@SuhailAlgosaibi: The preacher criticised Kim Kardashian's visit to Bahrain and called her a whore
Praise for Bahrain: A screen shot of @khalidalkhalifa‘s RT of Kim Kardashian
Many found the government forces throwing stun grenades – other reports say tear-gas – at the Salafists, who have been on the government's side in its crackdown on pro-democracy protestors, well, funny. Saudi Ali Mohammed tweets:
ههههههههههههههههه اجل متظاهرين ضد كيم كردشيان ورموا عليهم غاز مسيل ، أحد قال لكم تطلعون على ولي أمركم وتفسرون حكمته غلط !؟ #البحرين
@alahlawy29: hahaha! Protestors against Kim Kardashian were hit with tear-gas. Who told you you can go against your guardian (ruler) and misinterpret his judgement?
Meanwhile, the Kardashian visit's promoter, Sheeraz Hasan, whose Twitter profile reads: “Sheeraz, Inc has the authority to bring deals and investment opportunities from around the world to present directly to the Royal Families of Qatar and Bahrain,” brushes off the protests and tweets:
@sheerazhasan: NEW VIDEO: WHAT PROTESTS?? Kim Kardashian loved by the people of Bahrain & wants to return!! http://youtu.be/aE36X2lV85o
He links to this promotional video on YouTube, which shows screaming fans at the milkshake shop opening:
Also, activist Maryam Al Khawajah has written an open letter to Kardashian, inviting her to meet with human rights defenders while in Bahrain.
Wafa Alsayed comments on in inviting Kardashian to dabble with politics saying:
@WafaAlsayed: No offense, but asking Kim kardashian 2 comment on the political situation in Bahrain is like asking a chipmunk 2 prepare a 3 course dinner
Kardashian, Bahrain's international reputation for the excessive use of tear-gas and milkshake generated a few chuckles on the hashtag #TearGasMilkShake.
Ethan Zuckerman tweets:
@EthanZ: The new national drink of Bahrain: @KimKardashian's Tear Gas Flavored Milkshake. Try one today! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2241568/Kim-Kardashian-starts-riot-Police-officers-Bahrain-tear-gas-protestors-angry-reality-TV-stars-presence-Gulf-kingdom.html?ito=feeds-newsxml … #TearGasMilkShake
While in Bahrain, Kardashian spent some time on Twitter, posting her photograph with camels in the desert. She also tweeted praise to Bahrain – calling it “the prettiest place on earth,” before deleting it [see screenshot of Bahrain Foreign Minister's Khalid Alkhalifa‘s retweet of the original tweet].
Kim Kardashian posing with camels in Bahrain. Photograph shared by .@KimKardashian on Twitter
And it seems that Kardashian's posters are still flying high in Riffa. Dr Basem Amer tweets his objection:
بعد الانتهاء من حفلة رمز الإباحية #كيم_كارديشان ما زالت صورها معلقة في شوارع الرفاع جهاراً نهاراً ألا تراعون مشاعرنا كمسلمين ؟ #البحرين
@BASEMAAMER: After completing the party of the symbol of pornography Kim Kardashian, her photographs are still hanging on the streets of Riffa in broad daylight for all to see. Don't you have any respect for our feelings as Muslims?
Further Reading:
UNCUT: Why is Kim Kardashian going to Bahrain?