The long-standing ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia has finally been lifted, the New York Times reports. This comes on the back of a royal decree that was read live on state television and simultaneously aired at a press event in Washington. The decree stated that traffic laws will be amended, including to allow authorities to issue driver’s licenses “to men and women alike.”
According to Saudi leaders, the decision was to make right the ultra-conservative country’s international reputation, damaged largely by oppressive theocracy such as the draconian ban on women driving.
For the longest time, women had to be driven around or to work by their male counterparts (or relatives), whom they spent much of their salaries on. Those who defied the ruling by driving themselves were arrested and detained by authorities, and some even lost their jobs. Saudi women have lobbied for their right to drive since 1990 when the first public protest – a congregation of just 47 women – took place.
Several Saudi officials and clerics explained that it was culturally “inappropriate” for women to drive, and men wouldn’t know how to handle having women in cars next to theirs. Some even went as far as to claim that women who drive would lead to promiscuity and the collapse of the Saudi family, as well as a baseless claim that driving would harm their ovaries.
This reform, however, isn’t effective immediately, but will instead take place in June 2018 pending a 30-day window for relevant committees to provide recommendations for policing. The move is also motivated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s – the king’s 32-year-old son – long term plan to overhaul the kingdom’s economy and society.
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It’s about time those towel heads started using their brains…
Meanwhile M’sia introduce color coded laundry, plain dumb
Saudis don’t wear turban as headgears, you moron.
We’ll, that still doesn’t change the fact they’re morons, moron.
Dont forget the same fellows running our country also. Same bodohs
Who u calling? Donation beggar wing.
Braise yourself, it’s gonna be chaotic when they drive for the 1st time ever!
Good for them! Over here myvi drivers need to be ban for life…!!
Blind bashers aka john dupes bash for nothing…
I only repeat what u said. Why get angry at urself?
Be poi-sitive! ;-)
Don’t rejoice yet. It comes with certain conditions:
1. The woman must be 30 years and above
2. Consent from male guardian is required to get license
3. Drive in the city only with time restrictions.
4. Outstation drive must be accompanied by mahram
Having said that I look forward to see how the women will drive and handle the chaotic traffic conditions in Jeddah. I live in Jeddah since 2008, driving here since 2013 and there are times I felt my blood pressure went up.
U havent driven in Penang or Puchong.
John, have you driven in Jeddah?
Come challenge Puchong drivers 1st, after that step up to Penang driver level, then talk.
Try us at Duke, then talk. Pajero sport mari.
Dei, don’t belittle my fren OK. john have travel the world over many times. He travels by GOOGLE. He he he. Cheers …
The Saudis drivers are worst than our MyVi rempits. You be extremely lucky if your car don’t get knock from the local drivers there.
Haha…. spot on!
Rejoice over a country (the same country that still practising public beheading) that allowing women to drive in 2017 but frown over country that imposed immigration ban to protect itself from terrorist attack?
Meanwhile a male in Malaysia got summon for wearing shorts…
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Nooo……..
Now there will be more accidents and longer waiting time for parking. sigh