Saudi businessman threatened over women’s work

A prominent Saudi businessman says he has received threats following his calls this week to allow women to work at female clothes shops.

Saleh Kamel, Chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told the Saudi Okaz newspaper that he had received more than 30 messages accusing him of infidelity and being a Western agent.

“Kamel said he had received more than 30 threatening messages accusing him of infidelity, Westernization and being a Western agent,” the paper said.
he said the messages arrived on the first day of a forum organized by the Chamber in the western Red Sea Port of Jeddah this week.

 Kamel, who saved the numbers of those who sent the messages, said he was baffled by the threats and attacks, according to the paper,
“I don’t know why or on what basis they have made these accusations,” Kamel said, adding that such threats would not affect his work to ensure women have opportunities to work in the Gulf Kingdom, the world’s top oil exporter.

Okaz quoted him as saying that during the forum, the Chamber called for the creation of a clear procedure for employing women in shops trading exclusively in women’s accessories and underwear.
“The request has already been submitted to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry…..the matter will be discussed with other ministries to work out the rules, which he hopes will be issued soon,” he said.
Kamel urged women who will be working in the field to comply with the Islamic dress, stressing that women’s participation in development is essential.
“He said that he and the Chamber would be making all efforts to remove obstacles to women playing an active role in the country’s development, regardless of the accusations leveled against him,” the paper said.

Kamel is also chairman and founder of the Saudi-based Dallah al Baraka industrial giant and is one of the richest persons in the Gulf.