President visits world’s worst sectarian state

I WAS dismayed that President Mary McAleese addressed an economic forum at which women were screened off in Saudi Arabia.

This is the most profoundly sectarian state in the world. No religion but Islam is allowed to be practised in public. It does not recognise or concede religious freedom under any circumstances.

How could President McAleese address a function at which the female part of the audience was kept out of sight simply because of gender.