A women restaurant launched five months ago as the first only-women dining place in the western town of Taif was shut down for massive violations of health rules.
Health inspectors raided ‘Banat Biladi’ (Girls of My Country) restaurant following a report by some of its workers that it was selling bad meat.
“Inspectors decided to shut down the restaurant after discovering meat not fit for human consumption,” the Saudi Arabic language daily Okaz said.
“The inspectors also found that some workers do not have health certificates while others have not been paid since the restaurant was opened.”
Women’s laws stuck in drawers
Saudi women are gradually losing their rights and laws enacted to support them have remained in the drawers, a prominent Saudi female activist has said.
Aziza Al Yousuf said the situation of Saudi women during the 1970s and 1980s was much better than now and that they have no channel of contacts with officials.
“We are losing our rights every year. Our situation during 1970s and 1980s was far better than now. We have no open channel of contacts with the officials,” she told the Saudi ‘Rotana Khaleejiya’ television channel.
“The government has issued many laws supporting women but they have remained inactive. When a woman goes to the police or court, they just do not listen to her.”
Al Yousuf criticised government laws curbing the travel of women abroad without a custodian, saying this is a private affair.
“Whether the woman goes out of her home or travels abroad, this is a private affair. The state must not interfere in homes and families,” she said.