Canada protests ban on women at Saudi exhibition

RIYADH, May 7 (Reuters) Saudi organisers of an education exhibition in the conservative kingdom closed a Canadian booth because it was staffed by women, Canada's embassy in Riyadh said today.

They said organisers had said that women would be allowed to staff the booth promoting Canadian universities at a Middle East Education and Training Exhibition in the city of Jeddah last week.

''The closure of our booth was an unjustified, unprofessional act that damages the image of Saudi Arabia internationally,'' a statement issued over the weekend said.

''Prior to the event, we specifically inquired whether women staff would be permitted at the Exhibition and were told by the organisers, the Al Harithy Company, that they would.'' The organisers could not be reached for comment.

Saudi Arabia imposes a strict version of Islamic sharia law that requires public segregation of men and women.

Conferences often have separate seating arrangements for women who make their contributions via speakers from another room or from behind a screen.

There have been some efforts to soften the strict system, which is maintained by a special religious police force, but religious conservatives remain strong in society.

There are more than 5,000 Saudi students studying in Canada, one of a number of Western countries seeking to boost its Saudi contingent. The Saudi authorities also want more Saudis to study abroad.

REUTERS RS RAI2149