(Guardian-UK) Brian Whitaker - Saudi Arabia has banned imports of female dolls and teddy bears, and shopkeepers have been given three months to dispose of any stock. The ban also applies to non-Islamic religious symbols, such as crosses and statues of Buddha. It was imposed by Prince Nayef, 69, the interior minister (who is also in charge of the feared religious police), al-Riyadh newspaper said Wednesday. "Prince Nayef is trying to appease the extremists because the followers of Wahhabi Islam believe in forbidding this sort of thing," said Ali al-Ahmad of the Washington-based Saudi Institute.
2003-12-18 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive