Mia Khalifa Controversy – Photo: Top Porn Star Creates Controversy By Wearing Hijab In Sex Scenes

Mia Khalifa ignited a firestorm of controversy this week among Arab feminists, some of whom suggested that the performer is helping to perpetuate sexism and oppression in the Arab world and others who proclaimed Khalifa a feminist who could help defy patriarchy in the region.

Mia Khalifa Controversy – Photo: Top Porn Star Creates Controversy By Wearing Hijab In Sex Scenes

Mia Khalifa moved from Beirut, Lebanon to the United States at the age of ten before eventually moving to Miami, where she is now based.

The 21-year-old history graduate was ranked the most popular performer by Pornhub after only only a short period in the industry – but not everyone was impressed.

Her ranking drew strong criticism from many, including some in the Middle East who branded her “a disgrace” to the country and “shameful”.

Mia Khalifa has since been re-tweeting the abuse sparked by those taking issue with her Middle Eastern origins – some of which included death threats.

Many took issue with a scene from one of her videos showing her wearing a hijab, a part of traditional female Muslim dress, describing it as “problematic and gross”.

Mia Khalifa told the Washington Post such scenes are “satirical” and should be taken as such, adding: “There are Hollywood movies that depict Muslims in a much worse manner than any scene Bang Bros [the production company] could produce.”

Another user also sent a manipulated photo to make it appear as if Khalifa was in an orange jumpsuit and being held by Jihadi John, the Isis militant believed to be involved in a series of beheadings, with the caption “coming soon”.

One Twitter user threatened her head “will be cut soon” while another warned Khalifa would be the “the first person in Hellfire”, to which she quipped: “I’ve been meaning to get a little tan recently”.

“@Muhammaad11: @miakhalifa You do realize that you'll be the first person in Hellfire right?” I've been meaning to get a little tan recently

— Mia Khalifa (@miakhalifa) January 3, 2015

The Lebanese Examiner reports that various Beirut-based newspapers wrote critical reports about Khalifa in response to her ranking.

Mia Khalifa was quick to respond to such reports on Twitter.

Doesn't the Middle East have more important things to worry about besides me? How about finding a president? Or containing ISIS?

— Mia Khalifa (@miakhalifa) January 3, 2015

In an interview with Newsweek, Khalifa said her critics were accusing her of shaming Lebanon by appearing in adult films with such a tattoo on her body.

“They’re embarrassed I’m ‘claiming’ them – as if I had a choice. I was born there,” she said.

Mia Khalifa told the site her parents have also stopped speaking to her because of her career choice.

“I’ve dragged their name through the mud,” she said. “I feel guilty for dragging them into this and having all their friends know now that it’s on Lebanese media. But that was never my intention.”

However, Khalifa also had many supporters defending her decision to perform in pornography.

Agencies/Canadajournal