A BAHRAINI woman who owns and runs what is believed to be the first sex shop in the region says she is saving marriages, by spicing up couples' love lives. Khadija Ahmed says her products help prevent infidelity by putting the excitement back into people's marriages.
"My business is legitimate and I have all the necessary papers from the Industry and Commerce Ministry," said Ms Ahmed, who opened Khadija Fashion House in 2008. "I established the store to help married couples, because the issue most Bahraini couples suffer from is the lack of interest in their intimate relationship. "Infidelity is one of the main reasons couples get divorced and my store helps tackle that, because once the intimate relations of a couple become better, then they will work harder on their relationship. "It's similar to marriage counselling, but concentrating on the sex lives of couples. New and exciting passion breaks the daily routine of married life."
The 32-year-old mother-of-three appeared before the Lower Criminal Court yesterday, accused of insulting a Customs officer in a row as she tried to import some of her products, which include sex aids and games.
The case was adjourned until September 15, but Ms Ahmed, who denies the charge, says it has already cost her a night in a police cell and lost income on products blocked by Customs.
Customs officials say some of the products which Ms Ahmed tries to import are unauthorised. But Ms Ahmed argues that some are already on sale in pharmacies and other stores and that she is doing nothing wrong, since her target customers are married couples. She says she has built up a large customer base at the store, which is located in the heart of Jidali, on one of Bahrain's busiest roads.
"The products I sell don't go against Islam. There is nothing that prohibits married couples from enjoying their sex lives, or preventing them from having a happy marriage," said Ms Ahmed. "In the beginning I didn't face many problems but when my store became famous among locals and I started shipping in more orders, I faced a major barricade at the Customs office. "Customs staff confiscated some of my products, even though some are widely available in pharmacies and other stores. "Then representatives from the Customs Affairs and the Industry and Commerce Ministry created a committee to discuss my store and products. "They concluded that I couldn't ship in some of the things I sell. "Some of the reasons I received were that my business caused an uproar among religious leaders and some people were scared their children would get hold of my products. "But I never got any religious leaders or MPs opposing my store. I even spoke to a religious figure recently and he didn't oppose me, so why am I being targeted ?"
Ms Ahmed claims she was "locked up with prostitutes" overnight on May 6, before being released on bail, following the row with a Customs official, but is determined to continue her mission. "People are misunderstanding the goal of my business, which is why I believe I am facing such opposition," she said. "Bahrainis should be proud that they have a woman like me who is bold enough to create a business that serves married couples and they shouldn't stand against me."
Ms Ahmed appeared on a regional television programme in Lebanon last week which discussed whether the Arab world is ready for such a store. The programme was called Sex Shop Halal and was aired on the Future channel. Ms Ahmed said her family was fully supporting her, despite their personal views. "My family has been supportive because they know no-one can stand in my way and stop me from fulfilling my goals," she said. But she is bracing for problems, fearing that others may whip up ill feeling. "I am not scared but I have a feeling that worse things are coming my way. I will face them because I believe my business is helping couples and I know I am not doing anything wrong," she said. "I have a large customer base and I have received many emails and phone calls from people thanking me for saving their marriage. "Our society needs to come to terms with the fact that this actually helps married couples."
By NOOR TOORANI
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