Publishing Western Fashion Magazines in Conservative Middle Eastern States

Interesting story from AFP about the tribulations of publishing foreign editions of Western fashion magazines in ultra-conservative Middle Eastern countries. France-based Elle and Marie Claire both publish foreign editions in the Middle East, but the biggest challenge seems to be their Saudi Arabian editions. Short of coming out with editions aimed at the autonomous mountain regions of the Pakistan/Afghanistan border, I can't imagine a tougher sell.

"We are very careful not to provoke uselessly, we don't want to be banned. It would neither help social progress nor the status of women," said Jean de Boisdeffre, who heads the international media arm of Elle owner company, Lagardere Active.

Good luck.