Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya news channel has come out against The Arena host Michael Coren for wearing a niqab on air.

The news channel, wholly owned by the Saudi royal family, goes after Sun News Network for broadcasting Michael Coren wearing a niqab last week. Coren was wearing a niqab to criticize Maria TV, a newly-launched Egyptian channel, that shows women only if they are wearing the full-length face and body covering.

Coren has responded with a renewed criticism of the burka and Maria TV, stating that enforcing the covering furthers the opression of women under sharia law. Explaining his action, Coren further chastises North American women for remaining silent on the issue.