Saudi cleric calls for sexually harassing female cashiers

On Sunday night, Saudi writer and cleric Abdullah Mohamed al-Dawood posted via his twitter account an edict, or fatwa, calling on men to sexually harass working women.

He defended his call of harassment as a way "to discourage Saudi women from working."

Recently, Saudi women have been allowed to work in shops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, provoking criticism from conservatives.

Saudis and Arab nationals in turn responded to the cleric via social media platforms, some accusing him of inciting sexual attacks on cashiers, while others defended him.

Traditionally, Saudi women worked as professors, teachers or doctors in "men free" workplaces.

It is a primitive sign of changing times in the Kingdom where women have never been permitted to work with men.

But this move has ignited disputes with the religious elite, which voiced discontent over similar moves, such as granting women the right to vote in municipal elections.