11,000 signatures have been placed on a petition demanding that the government extend freedom to women. PHOTO: REUTERS
The organisation of the protest marks a huge stride forward for women in a nation which places severe limitations on women. They are, for instance, not permitted travel without a male escort who is a relative, while activities for girls such as sports are curbed. There has been speculation that the movement seeking a licence to drive could light up the way for other efforts by Saudi women to gain basic rights, in a country where women have been stoned to death for adultery and rape defended as a crime stemming from immoral behaviour by women.
But even what would seem like a minor issue is attracting near-rabid hysteria. A Saudi cleric has suggested driving could damage a woman’s ovaries. He has annexed no scientific evidence or explained why this issue seems not to affect women elsewhere. But the views put forward by the cleric indicate the views that prevail in the country and suggest women will need to fight hard to escape from the dark abyss of ignorance in which they have been living. The effort to be allowed behind the steering wheel is only a start to this; there are many miles ahead of this still to be traversed if Saudi women are to gain greater equality in a repressive society, which has stubbornly refused to change with the times.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2013.
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@darbullah: Saudi Arabia wants to retain its out of date traditions of 8th century even in 21st century.
@ahmed
You mean Saudi's can become the best place to live if they allowed equal rights to its women, right of free speech, right to follow any religion and right to vote ................ but wait a minute we already have countries who provide all these and ARE already a great place to live in.
Please refrain from calling something "best" when the only thing you have no hard facts just hard emotions!!
Monarchies have survived in Power in the Muslim world by co opting the Clerics into the power structure, price of which has been paid by the weaker sex and dissenters. Minus its Oil, Saudi Arabia faces a bleak and violent future.
The woman in the picture has a close resemblance with Benazir Bhutto
Quote from the GUARDIAN : " ----- Heard the one about the Saudi cleric who said driving damages ovaries?
The wild claim made by Sheikh Saleh bin Saad al-Lohaidan is so absurd, all we can do is make a joke of it and hope it goes away "
"----If women can't drive, surely men can't ride bikes. Men need to keep their testicles cool and roaming free in order to maintain healthy sperm production. This would imply banning men from cycling, wearing tight trousers, jockstraps, horse riding, ----"
Pathetic article.
Is Saudi Arabia in 21st century?