DUBAI: Authorities in the United ArabEmirates have opened an investigation into a visit by Kim Kardashian to a Dubai government children´s charity this month
and suggested it undermined local values, a state-ownednewspaper reported.
Kardashian concluded a brief stay in the Gulf Arab emiratelast weekend, shopping at the sprawling Mall of the Emirates andattending a masterclass there on makeup.
However, the Emarat al-Youm newspaper quoted Ministry ofCommunity Development official Wafa bin Suleiman as saying hervisit to children at the Rashid Centre for the Disabled was notauthorised and "had no goal from which students could benefit".
The ministry is investigating why the centre hostedKardashian without its authorisation, bin Suleiman said, addingthat the ministry would have rejected such a request becauseapproval depends on "full commitment to the customs andtraditions of the state".
It was not immediately clear whether all visits togovernment charities require approval or what element ofKardashian´s visit would have been contrary to custom.
There wasno immediate response to Reuters request for clarification fromthe ministry.Dhahi Khalfan, a senior Dubai police official, signalled thebeginning of official unease with the visit to the charity withtwo sharp tweets this week.
"We do not need the presence of Kim Kardashian in charitycenters ...charities (should) invite good people, and thank Godwe have plenty of good people," Khalfan posted, withoutelaborating.
The visit on Jan.15 was among the 36-year old celebrity´sfirst public appearances since being robbed of nearly $10million worth of jewels while in Paris in October.
A video posted on the Disabled Centre´s Facebook page showedKardashian, wearing torn jeans and a T-shirt, arriving at thecharity greeted by smiling children who performed a folk dancein Emirati robes and headdresses.
During the visit she donned atraditional black cloak and necklace as she talked to the adultsand children present.
The centre, also known as the Rashid Paediatric TherapyCentre, described it as an "amazing day" on its Facebook page.It could not immediately be reached for further comment.
Representatives for Kardashian could not be immediatelyreached for comment.She tweeted on Monday: "My favorite part ofthe trip was visiting Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre.
Thesebeautiful children showed me a performance of a lifetime!"