Saudi women are the only women in the world who are not allowed to drive as a result of an extremely strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Instead, wealthy women hire live-in chauffeurs, while poor women must rely on male relatives for transportation.
Now a women’s group called the Committee of Demanders of Women’s Right to Drive Cars has launched a campaign against the ban, collecting 1,100 signatures for a petition to King Abdullah through text messages and e-mail.
The petition stresses that Islam does not put constraints on women such as the driving ban and points out that women already "drive in villages and remote rural areas… as do women inside some big residential compounds although there are public means of transport available there."
Women in the oil-rich Gulf desert kingdom are forced to cover from head to toe in public, and cannot travel without written permission from their male guardian.
Supporters of female drivers say the prohibition exists neither in law nor Islam, but is based on fatwas, or edicts, by senior clerics who say women at the wheel create situations for sinful temptation. Women tried to defy the ban once and paid heavily for it. In November 1990, when U.S. troops were in Saudi Arabia following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, some 50 women got behind the wheel and drove family cars. They were jailed for one day, their passports were confiscated and they lost their jobs.
The last time the issue was raised was two years ago when Mohammed al-Zulfa, a member of the all-male appointed Shura Council, asked his colleagues to think about studying the possibility of allowing women over age 35 or 40 to drive – unchaperoned on city streets but accompanied by a male guardian on highways.
The suggestion caused a fierce controversy that included calls for al-Zulfa’s removal from the council and stripping him of Saudi citizenship, as well as accusations he was encouraging women to commit the double sins of discarding their veils and mixing with men.
So you can see what a brave stand a small group of women are making today. Their petition will be delivered as the Gulf nation wraps up National Day celebrations. Campaigner Fawzia al-Oyouni, whose group is lobbying the kingdom’s government for the first time, said:
"We would like to remind officials that this is, as many have said, a social and not a religious or political issue.. And since it’s a social issue, we have the right to lobby for it."
The government is unlikely to respond because the issue remains so highly sensitive and divisive. But committee members say their petition will at least highlight what many Saudis – both men and women – consider a "stolen" right.
One compromise I would suggest is for Mohammed al-Zulfa’s suggestion to be reconsidered. It would gradually allowing women the right to drive and lower age groups could be introduced.
I wish these brave women well with their campaign, they may not get their own way overnight, but the change will happen gradually. And thanks to the internet, they can keep us informed with their progress and gather extra global support.
It’s a despicable state and a despicable regime. Not long ago girl children died in a school fire becuse they would have had to escape unveiled. I don’t think al-Zulfa’s suggestion should be taken up as it again treats women as if they are children – needing a “guardian” on highways. IT’s about time Saudi men learnt a little self-control instead of making the womwn cover up completely. They’re only using them to prop up their absolute monarchy anyway.
And here’s me selling my car and pleading with the girls to allow me not to drive.
Welshcakes, I didn’t know about the fire. How could anyone live with that on their conscience?
I think the compromise is a good idea because of the Saudi culture and the fact that this is such a divisive issue. Sometimes you have to compromise in order to reach consensual agreement. It’s not ideal, but a start. The Saudi men will not change their views overnight, it’s impossible, but gradually, bit by bit, change and progress can be made.
No such problems in Israel.
Good luck to them, though they have a tough task.
It is a very interesting exercise to watch some of the translated daytime Arab talkshows on youtube.
The Richard Littlejohns’ of their world have an abudence of material provided thanks to the Jeremy Kyles’ of ours.
You mean women are allowed to drive in Britain
The West is sooooo deca-dent
I hear the Green Saudi excuse is that if women cannot drive, then that means approximately half the population cannot drive. If the rest of the world follows the Saudi example we could reduce road pollution by half – or feel less guilty about driving gas guzzlers, SUVs and 4x4s.
So Brown confident that he can and could beat Cameron hands down in a ‘leadership’ contest, but doesn’t trust the unpredictable and fickle voters with giving him a new term in office just yet.
Saudi Arabia is the seat of Islamic civilisation. They aren’t going to be shamed into change by a load of infidels like us.
In the Saudi vision the holy cities of Mecca and Medina will still be standing in 500 years, the Hajj will still take place on an annual basis.
The oil will be gone and a vibrant commercial consumer economy will be powered by the sun. Drivers will drink a refreshing cup of tea whilst charging up their vehicles in Riyadh.
There will not be any drunk, pregnant, Vicky Pollards in shell suits and pornography and alcohol will still be prohibited.
They do not see post-war European civilisation as ‘progress’ they see it as a violent infidel reaction to the twin evils of facism and communism that infidel civilisation created.
Sell the buggers fighter planes but why interfere in their social politics? We don’t take kindly to Muslims telling us that we should chop alternate hands and feet off shoplifters.
Our one gripe with the Saudis should be the way they treat immigrant workers from the commonwealth (i.e. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria) not how they organise their own civilisation.
It is none of our business.
An interesting post, as always, Ellee! When I stop and think how much we take for granted it is shocking! I wish this effort great success!!
It has always amazed me that this restriction on women driving in Saudi Arabia has continued for so long. We had many Saudi women doctors as residents in our hospital. They drove in this country but returned to their land as highly trained medical specialists but were not permitted to drive a car!
Even the Saudi Royal Family behaves differently in the West from the way they behave at home.
Good luck to these women.
I agree Ellee. BTW happy 18th!
Thanks Simon (he is referring to my 18th wedding anniversary – how did I manage it, I ask myself).
And thanks to Welshcakes for emailing me the link about the young girls dying in the fire, it is too horrible for words:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1874471.stm
I noted the fact about women not being able to drive last December (http://greenbanana.wordpress.com/2006/12/06/public-relations-women-and-cars/) – but what struck me as the oddest fact is women in Saudi are allowed to sell cars.
And, let’s not congratulate ourselves on being so emancipated. We still stereotype “women drivers” – and don’t get me started on Sheilas’ Wheels…
I’m drunk.
The truth is that the money being pulled out of Saudi civilisation and brought to Britain is spent of German sports cars (17.5 VAT).
Fine congac 17.5% VAT plus duty)
Petro/diesel (80% tax)
I’d sooner the rich Arab knobs than the skint third worlders. If the going gets tough I vote we arest them, seiz thri terrorists suppotying assests.
Most of all maintain military superiority.