Paris Hilton sparks Muslim outrage with store launch in Saudi Arabia`s holy city

New York: Socialite and hotel heiress Paris Hilton has sparked outrage in the Middle East by opening a new store in Saudi Arabia’s Holy city of Mecca. Saudis took to Twitter to say Hilton, who once starred in a sex video, was ``insulting Mecca`` by bringing her business venture to the city. Hundreds lashed out at the celebrity entrepreneur with their tweets, with some saying it was an ``affront`` to the ``principal sanctuary`` of Islam. According to the New York Daily News, one person replied to her message, in which she announced the official opening on her Twitter feed last Thursday, by saying: “R u kidding?”. Another added: “Saudi claim there are other ways to allow for pilgrims, and if religiosity is of such importance, why is @ParisHilton being allowed a store in Mecca?” A third person tweeted: “How can someone who made such a video open a store in the holy city next to the Grand Mosque?`` And a further added: “It is not acceptable to have such a woman open her store here.” But the 31-year-old remained undeterred by the comments and tweeted a picture of the store accompanied by the message: “Loving my beautiful new store that just opened at Mecca Mall in Saudi Arabia!” She later added: “This is the 5th store in Saudi Arabia, and store number 42 in total! So proud to keep growing my brand!” ANI