Camera phones were a controversy. Gyms worldwide banned them as a menace to women. Middle Eastern markets got the optic-free versions of latest phones. The Indian expats used to carry gadgets since it was much cheaper than buying it in India and they skipped the phones. Seems article is alluding to ME buyer still following the restriction in the age of ubiquitious smartphones.
2006 reference https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_expands_eseries_with_e50-news...