Saudi Arabia To Lift Driving Ban On Women

Finally…

Saudi Arabia is to lift the ban on women drivers in an attempt to stem a rising suffragette-style movement in the kingdom.

Government officials have confirmed the landmark decision and plan to issue a decree by the end of the year.

The move is designed to forestall protests for greater freedom by women, which have recently included campaigners driving cars through the kingdom in defiance of a threat of detention and loss of livelihoods.

“There has been a decision to move on this by the Royal Court because it is recognised that if girls have been in schools since the 1960s, they have a capability to function behind the wheel when they grow up,” a government official said. “We will make an announcement soon.”

[Source: Gulf News]

I never understood why women were banned from driving in the first place; I can’t imagine there being any sound logic behind it.

All my respect goes out to the Saudi women who brought on this change by defying the ban and pushing for their rights.

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Mohamed Marwen Meddah

Mohamed Marwen Meddah is a Tunisian-Canadian, web aficionado, software engineering leader, blogger, and amateur photographer.

5 thoughts on “Saudi Arabia To Lift Driving Ban On Women”

  1. Wow, that’s good news. I never would have expected this, a couple years ago it seemed like the Saudi Government was entirely inflexible on this issue. Kudos, Saudi Women 🙂

  2. Don’t believe the hype! Since I moved to Saudi 7 yrs ago this has been said every single year. I’m still not driving. I have issues w/ the article itself.. but for women driving.. heard it all before. I’ll believe it as soon as Im legally on the road.

  3. If women during Prohpet Mohammad days used to fight with him against the infidels, and they used to ride horses and were nurses as well, how come women in 2008 can’t drive a method of Transportation. I realy hope that is newsfeed is real this time, or maybe women just need to do a disobyment and drive their husbands cars in Riyadh! Maybe CNN would show their oppressed lifestyle on TV.

  4. i’m personally quite pleased with the changes Saudi Arabia decided to do lately. Such as this one, which is great news and previously their research to see the remarkable dissatisfaction of the Saudi population from the disciplinary police (with Mtawe’s)

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