Saudi cleric told to stop unauthorized edicts after his call for boycotting female vendors

Saudi cleric slammed over fatwa on women cashiers

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia’s most senior religious leader has ordered a conservative cleric to stop giving unauthorized edicts after his call for boycotting a supermarket chain that employs women as cashiers.

Sheik Youssef al-Ahmed had urged people not to shop at Panda Supermarket because women there work in jobs that allow for the mingling of the sexes. Al-Ahmed says this is a violation of Islamic law.

Grand Mufti Sheik Abdul-Aziz Al Sheik’s office said Thursday he ordered al-Ahmed to refrain from issuing edicts, or fatwas, without authorization.

Saudi media say the fatwa forced the chain to reassign 11 women employees Wednesday. The chain could not be reached for comment.

A recent royal decree limits the issuance of fatwas to a senior body of Saudi clerics.