ipoh-horfun
Well-Known Member
Men can no longer work in Saudi lingerie stores
04:46 AM Jan 06, 2012
A law forbidding men to work in women's lingerie stores in Saudi Arabia came into effect yesterday in a rare victory for women's rights in the ultra-conservative kingdom. The ban will be extended to cosmetic stores from July.
Many Saudi women, uncomfortable at having to deal with only male sales staff while shopping for lingerie, have recently clamoured for change through a Facebook campaign, urging a boycott of lingerie stores.
"It's about time, it's been a long struggle and the authorities have finally come to their senses," said Radio Jeddah journalist Samar Fatany.
Saudi Arabia banned men from working in female apparel and cosmetic stores in 2006, but the law was never enforced partly due to opposition by hard-liners. The kingdom's most senior cleric, Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, said recently that having female sales staff contradicts Islamic law, arguing that wrongdoing may occur when a woman stands face to face with a man and makes a sale without embarrassment. Agencies
04:46 AM Jan 06, 2012
A law forbidding men to work in women's lingerie stores in Saudi Arabia came into effect yesterday in a rare victory for women's rights in the ultra-conservative kingdom. The ban will be extended to cosmetic stores from July.
Many Saudi women, uncomfortable at having to deal with only male sales staff while shopping for lingerie, have recently clamoured for change through a Facebook campaign, urging a boycott of lingerie stores.
"It's about time, it's been a long struggle and the authorities have finally come to their senses," said Radio Jeddah journalist Samar Fatany.
Saudi Arabia banned men from working in female apparel and cosmetic stores in 2006, but the law was never enforced partly due to opposition by hard-liners. The kingdom's most senior cleric, Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheikh, said recently that having female sales staff contradicts Islamic law, arguing that wrongdoing may occur when a woman stands face to face with a man and makes a sale without embarrassment. Agencies