PHOTO: AFP
Saudi women going to the Starbucks café in Riyadh were surprised to find a board at the door asking them to keep out of the place, according to Emirates 24/7.
Images of the notice preventing women from entering Starbucks soon began showing up on Twitter.
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Unreal. Starbucks in Saudi Arabia refused to serve women. Note on their door, plus official response from company. pic.twitter.com/d4tCSqqQOv
— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) February 3, 2016
The notice, in Arabic as well as English, reads, "Please no entry for ladies, only send your driver to order. Thank you."
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the most influential law enforcing authority in the Kingdom, ordered the café’s management not to admit women, according to Emirates 24/7.
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The commission issued the order after it found that the gender-separation wall ordered by authorities for all restaurants and other shops had collapsed.
The management told police that the wall had collapsed many times because of persistent stampedes by customers.
According to Cosmopolitan, Starbucks issued a statement explaining their action. "Starbucks in Saudi Arabia adheres to the local customs by providing separate entrances for families as well as single people. All our stores provide equal amenities, service, menu, and seating to men, women and families," the statement read.
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"We are working as quickly as possible as we refurbish our Jarir store, so that we may again welcome all customers in accordance with local customs," it added.
Many took to Twitter to condemn the act:
https://twitter.com/danadadinosaur/status/694568018039435265
This is so 200 years ago #Starbucks #SaudiArabia https://t.co/ErURPEx14D
— Emma Sitland 🍉 (@emmasitland) February 2, 2016
More reasons I'm Thankful I live in ATX in the USA! https://t.co/eVEINgeP74 #girlpower @womensrights
— Fertbottom (@fertbottom) February 1, 2016
https://twitter.com/WHLinen_Guy/status/694203473513070593
https://twitter.com/Jenn_Abrams/status/694532504959655937
https://twitter.com/manarn8/status/694177510104383488
Gents only! #Starbucks in #SaudiArabia https://t.co/v4riniucIk
— Zulfi Rao 💙♻️ 🇵🇸 (@ZulfiRao1) February 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/manarn8/status/694169639669096448
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