Selena Gomez
Actress and singer Selena Gomez poses for a portrait while promoting her movie ''Spring Breakers'' in Los Angeles, California March 16, 2013. REUTERS/MARIO ANZUONI

Selena Gomez's latest Instagram picture has sparked a controversy. It is reported that in her latest Instagram photo, she and her model friends Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid can be seen posing playfully inside a mosque while wearing the traditional attire of ayabs and hijabs.

Gomez, along with Jenner, Hadid and her longtime reported boyfriend and Australian singer Cody Simpson, are seen covered in loose fitting cover up clothes and traditional head scarves. They were accompanied by several other model friends who also wore a similar attire. Although the location of the picture is not mentioned in its caption, Daily Mail has reported that the distinctive colour and architecture of the place closely resembles the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the key worship area of Abu Dhabi and is massive in structure. It can accommodate up to 40,000 people. Its unique qualities, such as the white and gold columns, the world's largest carpet in the main prayer hall and the third largest chandelier in the planet, make it a great tourist attraction and religious destination.

It is reportedly the same place where Rihanna triggered a controversy last year for posing seductively in the premises of the mosque. Covered in a black jumper and head scarf, she was criticised for violating the status and the sanctity of the religious place. It was reported in October 2013 that the singer was forcefully removed from the premises as she had worn heavy makeup and posed seductively inside its premises, as reported in Mirror.

As evidently seen in the picture posted by Gomez, Jenner and their friends had taken extra care to not offend the religious sentiments of the place and visited the area all covered up with long black robes and scarves in accordance with the norms and protocol. However, The Mirror has reported that the photo might trigger another round of controversy and land these celebrities in trouble for posing playfully inside the mosque.

As reported earlier, the 'Come & Get It' singer went on vacation with her model friends, Jenner and Hadid. They spent the New Year's eve in Dubai. The former Disney child star kept her 19.3 million followers updated regularly by posting pictures of herself and her friends.

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