Socialite, designer and former reality TV star Paris Hilton has spurred howls of outrage in Saudi Arabia by opening a handbag store in the holy city of Mecca.

Her boutique in the Mecca Mall has angered scores of faithful Muslims who don’t want anything to do with the blond hotel heiress, who first gained notoriety in 2003 with a homemade sex tape that went viral.


Some Saudis have flocked to Twitter to vent about the “insult” to Mecca, where millions of Muslims arrive annually on a pilgrimage.

“Whilst Arabs are being killed in Gaza other Arabs can now enjoy sex-tape heiress,” goes one tweet. “Show your disgust.”


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Another asked via Twitter: “How can someone who made such a video open a store in the holy city next to the Grand Mosque?”


Others thought the whole luxury shopping center was sacrilegious.

“Forget @ParisHilton the whole mall is an insult!” another tweeted. “Mecca Mall! WTF...ppl who travel 2 the haram shud only intend 2 worship.”


Hilton, no stranger to controversy, has not publicly made any comments about the Twitter storm. The latest store is the fifth in Saudi Arabia and 42nd worldwide that bears her name.

The former “The Simple Life” star simply tweeted: “Loving my beautiful new store that just opened at Mecca Mall in Saudi Arabia!”


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