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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.

#2

Mariah Carey - #1's

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#3

Pool Ad

Pool Ad

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Jess Gore
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love how they're all fully dressed. But balloon mom is just too much!!!!

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Debbie Detmer
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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?

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M O'Connell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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nameme the undieing
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

no no that not the middle east that's Disney the mothers all get killed off and merchandise must be on screen

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Lu
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We shouldn't lump up Middle East, not all countries are the same or people for that matter.

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Ryan Cramer
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is it necessary to blur the kids faces the middle east? weird..

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Sarah Dumphy
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's something to do with not portraying the human form. At least they didn't photoshop Ray Bans on them.

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Rhain
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LOL...who phoshopped this? The Pooh ball is challenging the laws of physics!

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Molly Block
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the little boy has to be so covered up? I had no idea it was this strict. And it's okay for a grown man to be in the pool with three kids, 2 of them little girls, one he is clearly gazing at, while the only woman is traded for a beach ball? This seems more disturbing to me than the original photo!

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Maciek Ravs
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

http://www.marcelgagne.com/content/ikea-and-starbucks-bow-down-islamic-misogyny

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Sarah Wilson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WTH did mother do wrong that she got ditched for a helium balloon . Im surprised they didn't have the little girls in frog suits :/

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Valerie Treichel
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry kids, I divorced your mother and replaced her with a blow up doll.

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Claire
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it would be tight to her form (not my opinion!!!). Some even take issue with a burkini.

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Monika Belbo
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where is the mother? Coming back in a bikini?Or is she not allowed to show herself? In Europe we have been swimming in swimsuita for at list 90 years. I know I am 78.

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R Joseph Owles
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why can they put extra clothes on the man and the children, but the woman (wife? mother?) be removed and replaced by an inflatable object?

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Manal Khalaf
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is stupid n fake, covering kids too! Never seen that in the middle East

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Stinkypie Ticklebum
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

SRSLY? They couldn't give mum a birkini as well? Where do they think those children came from?

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Mr.Fly
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in Saudi Arabia and this is hilarious. Idk why.

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Jeanna
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, bad photoshop, mom replaced with balloons?? WTF? Wearing clothes in the pool...c'mon

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Flavia Slag
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He doesn't have a beard and the little girls heads are not covered.

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Dan Davis
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In my youth in the 50's attending a fundamental Baptist Youth Camp boys were required to wear T-shirts when swimming. It was ludicrous since once the shirts were wet you could still see our nipples. Reminds me of the writings of Bertrand Russell when he was confounded by nuns that had to shower without removing their habits. God works in mysterious ways.

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Emily Johnston
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well that's ridiculous. At least one of those girls would be a boy and not older than the boy child.

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Hind Hani
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Alberto, you're so wrong! You obviously don't know much.

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Ana Amaro
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No they are scared that some humans of their own go against them! The repression is always there because is a way to keep them quiet. It's a delicate question...

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Ag Monteiro
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They simply erase the woman in the pool as they use to do with theirs.

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Ana Torres
Community Member
6 years ago

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Dafuq u doin in the pool!? Go back to the kitchen b***h

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Alberto
Community Member
6 years ago

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Too far for whom? And what about the respect of the other cultures? According to us (you) they should respect our culture. But what about us respecting their culture?

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Juana
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's ok to not respect cultures that treat women poorly: deny them rights, control them, abuse them, genital mutilation, etc.

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#4

Shakira - Oral Fixation

Shakira - Oral Fixation

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#6

Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again

Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again

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#9

Nirvana - Nevermind

Nirvana - Nevermind

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didi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have 2 cassette tapes of this album from the early 90s in Saudi: one with white shorts and the other with black ones!

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#13

Jennifer Paige - Jennifer Paige

Jennifer Paige - Jennifer Paige

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M O'Connell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least it's done better than many of the others. And it's a legit style. I probably wouldn't have noticed.

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#17

Censored Floaties In Saudi Arabia

Censored Floaties In Saudi Arabia

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#19

Gisele Bundchen's H&M Ad Campaign Censored For Middle East

Gisele Bundchen's H&M Ad Campaign Censored For Middle East

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Dima Less
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol, can someone please explain me why make an Ad campaign for the countries where nobody will be allowed to wear this s**t?

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#21

Toni Braxton - More Than A Woman

Toni Braxton - More Than A Woman

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Bianka Nagy
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More than a woman, less than a man, apparently... go ahead, give me all the thumbs down :)

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#22

Mariah Carey - The Art Of Letting Go

Mariah Carey - The Art Of Letting Go

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#29

Back Cover Of Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now'

Back Cover Of Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now'

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#30

Gloria Estefan - Abriendo Puertas

Gloria Estefan - Abriendo Puertas

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Zenozenobee
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Come on! the original one was way less provocative than the Lady Gaga remix cover after they added strips!

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#32

Katy Perry - One Of The Boys

Katy Perry - One Of The Boys

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Vickie Martin
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No kidding...she can kiss a girl and like it but not be seen in shorts ahahaha

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#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)

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)

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#37

Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey - Mariah Carey

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#38

Shakira - Laundry Service

Shakira - Laundry Service

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Kate Brannan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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#42

This Huge Advertisement With Blurred Woman's Face In A Mall Of Jeddah

This Huge Advertisement With Blurred Woman's Face In A Mall Of Jeddah

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#45

Solid Harmonie - I'll Be There For You

Solid Harmonie - I'll Be There For You

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Hallak65
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Give a like, if you heard about this band before. Only 90s kids will remember :D

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#46

Tlc - Unpretty

Tlc - Unpretty

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Kate Brannan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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#49

Hasna - Bamba

Hasna - Bamba

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