A prominent human rights organization has urged restaurant owners to remove signs barring women entry without legal guardians or mahrams.
“Such signs are illegal and only express personal viewpoints,” said Khaled Al-Fakheri, secretary-general and spokesman at the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR).
The statement comes in the wake of several photos circulating online showing such placards on restaurant doors across the Kingdom.
The manager of one restaurant defended the move, saying that only one of his branches has the sign up.
“The only motive for putting up such an announcement is to protect women from harassment,” he said.
“We only want to avoid trouble, but will remove the announcement if trouble disappears.”
Several Saudis have blasted the new trend, saying it is a violation of women’s rights and a clear form of gender discrimination. “This is illegal and irrational,” one blogger said.
“Such announcements were widespread at restaurants in the old days, but soon disappeared.”
He added: “The reemergence of such trends is a step back for our nation and will only make society members resent complicated and unnecessary norms.”
Food for thought: Shouldn’t restaurants let women sans mahrams in?
Food for thought: Shouldn’t restaurants let women sans mahrams in?
Winners of orphans’ Olympiad announced in Al-Qunfudhah
- Honors for physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology
- Event includes training for primary, secondary pupils
RIYADH: The winners of the first Scientific Excellence Olympiad for orphans’ associations were announced in Al-Qunfudhah governorate on Monday.
The event was organized by the Orphans’ Association in Wadi Hali, in partnership with the Council for Orphans’ Associations, under the patronage of Makkah Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal.
Al-Qunfudhah Gov. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Qubba’ handed out the awards.
Thirty-eight associations from the Kingdom participated in the event representing 86 percent of all beneficiaries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Abuwah Orphans Care Association in Unaizah won first place in the associations category, followed by the Kafel Orphans Care Association in Makkah, and the Binaa Orphans Care Association in the Eastern Province.
In the academic category, the Kafel Orphans Care Association won first place in mathematics, chemistry, and biology.
The Abuwah Orphans Care Association won first place in physics, second place in mathematics and biology, and third in chemistry.
The Binaa Orphans Care Association took home second in chemistry and physics, and third in mathematics.
The Insan Orphans Care Association in Riyadh came third in physics, while the Abnaouna Orphans Care Association in Khulais came third in biology.
Also, the Atf Orphans Care Association in Al-Aridah received the Media Excellence Banner Award for its efforts in tandem with the Olympiad’s activities.
The Olympiad’s training activities included problem-solving, decision-making, self-confidence, communication, and examination preparedness.
Indicators are used to measure the impact and sustainability of these programs for those at primary and secondary school levels.
