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Sisters are cooking it for themselves at Iraq's women-only restaurant

by Reuters
Tuesday, 24 July 2018 11:45 GMT

Waitresses serve an order at Luxury Time, the city's first women-only restaurant, in Erbil, Iraq July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari

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The founder was fed up of unwanted attention on nights out with friends in northern Iraq

ERBIL, Iraq, July 24 (Reuters) - At Luxury Time, a restaurant in the Kurdish city of Erbil, there are no man-size portions.

The women-only restaurant, with its all-female staff, was opened this month by 23-year-old business graduate Tara Mohammed Ihssan who was fed up of unwanted attention on nights out with friends in northern Iraq.

"If you want to go out, it is so uncomfortable because everyone is starring at you," she told Reuters.

Waitresses serve an order at Luxury Time, the city's first women-only restaurant, in Erbil, Iraq July 17, 2018. Picture taken July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari

"So I have always thought about doing something like this for me and for the rest of the girls to feel comfortable."

The restaurant's sleek, modern interior, with hanging chandeliers and colourful couches, has drawn unwanted attention, however, with some men coming to the door to see what the fuss is all about.

Waitresses serve an order at Luxury Time, the city's first women-only restaurant, in Erbil, Iraq July 17, 2018. Picture taken July 17, 2018. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari

"I have been thinking, if it stays this way I will put security on the door," Ihssan said.

"I find it unfair as all the cafes here are just for men, why can't you accept that there is this cafe for ladies."

(Writing by Patrick Johnston Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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