Saudi Arabian authorities order shops to build sex-segregation walls

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have ordered shops that employ both men and women to build separation walls to enforce segregation.

The order was issued by Labour Minister Adel Faqih and was verified by Abdullatif al-Sheikh, the head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, commonly known as ‘Mutawa’ or religious police.



The new rule states that a separation barrier, no shorter than 1.6 metres, should be erected to divide men and women in the workplace.

In December, the head of the religious police accused the labour ministry of failing to promote a safe work environment for women in the country as many have complained of harassment.