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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

Mariah Carey - #1's

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#3

Pool Ad

Pool Ad

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

So...in the Middle East it is OK for Winny the Pooh to marry Barney and adopt/have 3 surrogate kids! Legendary!!

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

OMG! they forgot too ink a lady's face on the top line!!!! people are going to see a woman's face!!!!

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

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

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

I.e. m. East= undersexed, West= oversexed. Both ways are Equally offensive to me x

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

I think there's nothing wrong with modesty. ENFORCED covering-up is another thing entirely.

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

Oh no... A woman in a picture!!! A man might think of a woman!!!! 😵

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

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!

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

No wonder they rape and molest everything upon arriving to Europe... Damn, we actually have women walking around without garbage bags on them....

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

Again why the blackout on the mothers?? They do realize it takes a woman to have a child right? So backwards :/

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

I think seeing blacked out parents in pictures is more scarring than people in a pool without a shirt...

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

Apparently, they prefer the Shadow Figures from GHOST to hold their children than women.

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

That on on the top left looks straight out of a horror movie!

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

Mama is always a black ghost and I have to wonder if these images scare the kids or not.

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

So is there a horny guy in a warehouse somewhere Sharpie-ing out all the boobies?

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

Looks like all these kids are being kidnapped by some nightmarish creatures...

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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
Community Member
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
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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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