BAHRAIN could soon ban the display of lingerie and underwear in shopfronts.
The Southern Municipal Council yesterday unanimously approved an urgent proposal in this regard presented by its only-female member and technical committee chairman Eman Al Gallaf.
She suggested that the ban be implemented from January 1.
The proposal will now be reviewed by the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister.
“The current marketing practice of exhibiting lingerie and underwear on mannequins in shopfronts is indecent in a country that upholds family and religious values,” said Ms Al Gallaf during the council’s weekly session at the Riffa Municipality.
“People already know what is being sold in clothing shops. If it is a store dedicated to lingerie, then it is obvious what are on the shelves.
“In case of a general clothing store, it is clear there is going to be a section for lingerie and underwear.
“In both cases there is no need to advertise underclothes in shopfronts.”
When asked by her colleagues about lingerie and underwear being advertised on social media, Ms Al Gallaf said it was by choice and not forced.
“Any sales on social media is limited to people who choose to view the page whereas shoppers can’t avoid seeing underclothes as they walk past the clothing stores.”
She added that even models exhibiting clothes on social media should consider Bahrain’s culture, value and traditions.
“My proposal is concerned with shopfront displays and ensuring that they are respectable and acceptable.”
Ms Al Gallaf also said she was not against men working in clothing shops.
However, she added that women should be attending customers in women’s section.”
The same council in June last year voted to prevent male workers from being hired in female clothing, tailoring and accessories shops.
Complaints
Councillors said at the time that they had received complaints from families over the issue, adding that there were many unemployed Bahraini women who could take up such jobs.
In 2017, the Cabinet ruled against a proposal by the Muharraq Municipal Council to force department stores to install screens in lingerie sections. Under the proposal stores would also have been required to hire female staff to work in lingerie sections.
Vetoing the proposal which he described as “unjustified”, Mr Al Zayani said it constituted unnecessary interference in the private sector.
In a written response to Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf, he said it was up to the shops to decide how they displayed products and pointed out that customers were free to avoid any establishment where they felt uncomfortable.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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