Shouldn't they be in the back seat instead?
"Saudi Arabian women get behind the wheel; 60 reportedly flout tradition, amid protests" by Ben Hubbard | New York Times, October 27, 2013
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — On Saturday, a small number of women — even the main activists were not sure how many — insisted on violating one of the most stubborn social codes in staunchly conservative Saudi society....
The Associated Press reported that more than 60 women drove nationwide and a security official said no women had been fined or arrested for driving.
The public call for women nationwide to drive on Saturday was the latest push in a decades-old effort by a small group of activists to exercise what they see as a fundamental human right. Saudi Arabia, a hereditary monarchy, is the only country in the world where women are not allowed to drive.
The fact that the activists have been at it for so long without succeeding in creating a mass movement or any change in government policy underlines the power of tradition in Saudi society. It also shows the tremendous political clout of social conservatives who fear that Westernization or anything that looks like it will detract from the kingdom’s Islamic character, even though malls, high-end shops, and fast-food outlets are noticeable across the Saudi landscape.
In other words, the Islamic law in Saudi Arabia is simply a cover to oppress people.
Despite the strong opposition, the women believe time is on their side. They point to the huge numbers of Saudis who study and travel abroad and return with new perspectives on their culture. They also point to the kingdom’s youthful population and the tremendous rise of social media as factors that over time will make the country more open to change.
But their movement’s goal is profoundly modest compared with the Arab Spring calls for reform that have toppled some Middle Eastern governments and shaken others. They have gone out of their way to avoid anything that looks like a protest, remain deeply loyal to the 89-year-old King Abdullah, and studiously avoid confrontations with the authorities.
“We don’t want to break any laws,” said Madiha al-Ajroush, 60, a psychologist who has been campaigning for the right to drive since 1990. “This is not a revolution, and it will not be turned into a revolution.”
Instead the women merely seek what is considered an ordinary privilege elsewhere in the world....
I must admit, this not letting women drive is not only stupid, it is also potentially fatal. What if there is some sort of medical emergency?
When it comes to women’s rights, Saudi Arabia remains one of the most restrictive countries in the world. Guardianship laws mean that a woman cannot marry, work, or travel abroad without the consent of a male relative.
Other restrictions are more cultural than legal....
Some opponents pointed out that Oct. 26 was the birthday of Hillary Rodham Clinton, implying a foreign hand in the planning.
Oh, I'm not surprised that the hand of AmeriKa is behind this.
Last week, hackers broke into the campaign’s website, posting insults aimed at a prominent activist and a video in which a man identified as a Zionist calls for women to drive — implying that Saudi’s enemies see this as a way to weaken the kingdom.
Related: 2002 Iraqi Intel Reported Wahhabis Are of Jewish Origin
Another reason Iraq had to be invaded in 2003.
Religious figures have also weighed in. One prominent sheik, Nasser al-Omar, led a delegation of 200 sheiks to the royal court in Jeddah to appeal to the king against “the conspiracy of women driving cars,” as he said in a video posted online.
One woman who drove to a supermarket said she was not concerned about the low turnout but appreciated the support received by those women who did drive.
Not long after her return home, she was still elated by the experience. “I’m so proud of myself right now,” she said.
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Also see: Saudi Arabia’s message to Obama
Related: Slow Saturday Special: Saudi Arabia Says No Thanks to Security Council Seat
