The porn industry may have been begging for a bailout recently as a result of sales going soft, but the business of racy lingerie is booming. At least in the Muslim world that is. According to a Salon story yesterday, which originally appeared in Der Spiegel, "Edible undies in the Muslim world" and other risque undergarments are flying off retailers' racks. Abdullah Hayek, who sells edible undergarments among other things at Damascus' Hamidiyeh souk, cites the Middle East's budding Internet culture as having jump-started the phenomenon a few years ago.

As for top sellers, Hayek's stock includes "one bra consist[ing] of two bird nests, outfitted with miniature sparrows. Above that is a design where plastic roses conceal the wearer's charms. There is a whole collection of electronically enhanced panties in which a button is attached at strategically important places. When it is pushed, lights flash, or a hidden device plays Arabic love songs." As for the women living in the Muslim world who are most willing to be risque with regard to lingerie: Hassan Nasser from Rose Underwear says, "I tell you, Palestinian women are the most interesting. They want sexy stuff -- the saucier the better."