Ikea the Swedish mega chain said excluding women from the Saudi Arabian version of their catalogue is in conflict with the company's values but has not retracted the catalog so far.
The move has also resulted in numerous protest against IKEA at home in Sweden and abroad.
Islamic Sharia law is applied strictly in Saudi Arabia, where the ruling Al Saud family espouses a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam known as Wahhabism, the BBC reports.
Women live under various restrictions, including no right to drive, and must be covered whenever they are outside the home.
Saudi leader King Abdullah is seen as trying to cautiously introduce reforms, some aimed at loosening restrictions on women's right to vote. Unfortunately it has been more talk than action.
Ikea operates three branches in Saudi Arabia.
Read more: Radio New Zealand : News : World : Women's images removed from Ikea catalogue
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