The move propelled the cafe ahead of the law in the kingdom, where most restaurants and coffee shops are divided, by law and custom, into all-male “singles” sections and “family” sections for women and mixed family groups. Men enter through separate doors and pay in separate lines; women sometimes eat behind partitions to ensure privacy from male strangers.

Baristas work at Nabt Fenjan, a coffeeshop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As the government relaxes restrictions on men and women working and socialising together, coffeehouses are on the front lines of change. (Iman Al-Dabbagh/The New York Times)Baristas work at Nabt Fenjan, a coffeeshop in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As the government relaxes restrictions on men and women working and socialising together, coffeehouses are on the front lines of change. (Iman Al-Dabbagh/The New York Times)

For insight into these head-spinning times in Saudi Arabia, where the ultraconservative social and religious codes that micromanage daily life seem to spring a new leak every month — women driving! movie theatres! Usher and Akon rapping to sold-out crowds! — it sometimes pays to read the Google Maps reviews of specialty coffee shops.
“I visited this place and was in a total shock!” Tarak Alhamood, a customer at Nabt Fenjan, a Riyadh coffee shop, raged online recently. “YOU r VIOLATING the rules of this country. I hope this place get closed permanently.”

The blame lay not with the matcha iced tea and flat whites (good, other reviewers opined), the nondairy milk options (appreciated), the chocolate cake (don’t miss) or the prices (less popular).

The issue was the decision that made Nabt Fenjan a daring outpost of the new Riyadh: Originally opened only for women, the coffee shop began allowing male and female customers to mix in late 2018.

Lebanese security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters outside the central bank on Tuesday night, facing off with dozens of people who pelted them with stones and fireworks.
Security forces also fired live rounds into the air, a Reuters witness and two local broadcasters said.

Protesters set garbage dumpsters on fire and threw tear gas canisters back at riot police as ambulance sirens rang out. Young men, their faces covered, smashed bank storefronts and ATMs, another Reuters witness said.

A wave of protests erupted last October against a ruling elite accused of steering Lebanon towards its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Since Saad al-Hariri resigned as prime minister in late October, politicians have failed to agree on new government or a rescue plan. The Lebanese pound has weakened on the parallel market, a hard currency squeeze has driven up prices and confidence in the banking system has been battered.

"Everything we're suffering from is because of the banks and the central bank's policies," Ali, a 21-year-old college student, said at the protest in Beirut's Hamra commercial district. "This is why there's no longer any money, and prices are rising."

He said tight controls that banks have imposed, limiting dollar withdrawals and blocking most transfers abroad, have also fuelled outrage. "They won't give people their own money."

The head of the banking association told Reuters this week that the curbs sought to "preserve the wealth of Lebanon, and Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh says deposits are safe.

The civil defence said it treated some protesters and police who suffered injuries on Tuesday, without giving a toll.

Lebanon's internal security forces called on protesters to leave Hamra street "for their safety or else they will be deemed rioters and will be chased."

When bdnews24.com contacted Saad Hammadi, the regional campaigner for South Asia of Amnesty International, for his comments on the matter, he referred to the head office of the organisation.

The Amnesty International headquarters in London did not respond to bdnews24.com email for their comments on the issue. Finally, they issued the apology in the statement published through another Facebook post.

Its previous “erroneous” post drew angry reactions as well, calling it “misleading and false”. The users also accused Amnesty of serving the purpose of the West.

“This picture is totally abusive for Bangladesh. Amnesty can do nothing for the sake of Syria,Irak,Yemen or Palestine but serve the purpose of U.S.A & others.What a fun!” Amit Hasan wrote.

Monjurul Waheed Anu described how stable Bangladesh is now in his comment.

“We have a very good communal harmony and a almost stable political environment. Where do you find such headlines? Where do you find innocent peoples are getting attacked? And also the picture shown in this photo where is the location of this? Are you guys kidding us or you guys are mad? This photo is from another country. This is such a conspiracy who paid you for this?” he asked.

Amnesty had previously faced criticisms by Bangladeshis when it protested against the trial of crimes against humanity committed during the country’s Liberation War.

Amnesty International has offered an apology for “erroneously” marking Bangladesh among conflict and war zones in a social media advertisement.

“We regret this mistake and offer an unconditional apology to the people of Bangladesh and anyone else who has been offended by this post,” the UK-based human rights group said in a statement on Tuesday.

The post has now been “corrected” and measures put in place to ensure “additional oversight” of future posts, according to the statement.

“We acknowledge that Bangladesh is not among countries currently facing a war or conflict, and in fact is at present hosting nearly a million Rohingya refugees who fled crimes against humanity in Myanmar,” it added.

The “erroneous” Facebook post with a photo of war-ravaged Syria last Friday read: “In Bangladesh and across the world, innocent people face attacks, violence and death - just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We fight to expose horrific abuses in times of war and conflict. Join a movement of millions making these stories heard.”

It could not be seen from Bangladesh sometimes later as Bangladeshis started expressing shock in comments.