The three women wake to the sound of a burglar rummaging downstairs.

They summon the police, don their veils and flee into the street to wait, but when the officer arrives he refuses to investigate because there is no male present.

I swear by God I would love to serve you, the officer avows, retreating to his patrol car. But we cannot enter if your male guardian is not here.

As you would expect it's the fundies who are miffed at the Islamic tenets and cultural traditions being mocked, but most of the locals find the show's subtle ridicule of the way such tenets jar with modern life hilarious.

Not Without Your Male Guardian - Sydney Morning Herald, 29th November 2003.