ABHA, 16 June 2007 — Every morning around 7 a.m. about 65 women start arriving to a local market for women vendors in Khamis Mushayt, 30 km east of this highland city in southern Saudi Arabia. The women sell a range of basic domestic amenities as well as traditional items, including clothing and handicrafts.
The scent of henna, coffee, basil and catechu (an astringent extracted from acacia wood) permeates the market, transferring the spirit of village life to the local urban center.
In one way, this region is home to some of the most empowered Saudi women, who feel free to talk to both men and women customers in their trades. (This differs from the Saudi urban centers where women can work as sales clerks in retail outlets catering specifically to women customers.)
But the women of this market have been increasingly complaining of the prevalence of counterfeit Saudi currency being passed around by some unscrupulous customers.
“I joined this market ten years ago,” says vendor Safha Al-Othman. “This shop is my only source of income for my six children and me. Our biggest fear is the forged money.”
Al-Othman says she has received Saudi currency that turned out to be counterfeit on numerous occasions. And, she adds, she’s not the only one.
“A man came to my friend and wanted to buy fresh butter, which is known for its high quality and high price. The man gave her a SR500 bill. After the customer left, she noticed that the currency was fake.”
The women of the market say that the authorities have been of little help, and that they have had to absorb the loss of taking fake bills.
“My friend called the police for help, but they didn’t catch the man and they only told her that law does not protect those who are ignorant.”
Not far from Al-Othman sits Um Ahmad Al-Garni who is a mother of seven and sells women’s products, such as cosmetics and clothing.
“I have received a SR500 bill and a SR200 bill, both of which turned out to be fake,” said Al-Garni.
Al-Garni said when she reported the crime to local police, they told her to come back later. She and others have petitioned local officials to provide police and immigration authorities in the market to deter the criminals. To date the municipality has not responded to the request of the vendors.
A source from the Abha Municipality police, who asked not to be identified, denied that they have received any complaints of forged currency in the women’s market in nearby Khamis Mushayt. He also said that monitoring commercial activity in the market is not their responsibility.
