Saudi woman arrested for challenging driving ban

[Newsjock]

Source: Reuters

Saudi authorities arrested a female activist on Sunday who launched a campaign to challenge a ban on women driving in the conservative kingdom and posted a video on the Internet of her driving, activists said.

The YouTube video, posted on Thursday, has attracted more than 500,000 views and shows Manal Alsharif, who learned to drive in the United States, driving her car in Khobar in the oil-producing Eastern Province.

... Women in the country are not allowed to drive and must have written approval from a designated guardian … a father, husband, brother or son – to leave the country, work or travel abroad.

... While there is no written law that specifically bans women from driving, Saudi law requires citizens use a locally issued licence while in the country. Such licences are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/saudi-woman-arrested-for-challenging-driving-ban/article2031611/

[sakabatou]

1. More power to the women in Saudi Arabia

[midnight]

2. K&R for these women.

[ZombieHorde]

3. Awesome. She's a bad-ass. nt