Only Women In Saudi Arabia Can Sell Lingerie; Country's Rel. Radicals Were Opposed to the Idea

The Telegraph (British) website reports today (January 2, 2012) that Saudi Arabia will begin enforcing a law this week that allows only women to work in lingerie and apparel stores, despite disapproval from the country's top cleric.

The 2006 law -- which bans men from working in female apparel and cosmetic stores -- has never been put into effect, mainly because of the view of hard-liners in the religious establishment who oppose the idea of women working where men and women congregate together, like malls.

Saudi women -- tired of men buying their underwear -- have been boycotting lingerie stores to pressure them to employ women.

The government's decision to enforce the law goes into effect on January 5, 2012.