Women+Driving+and+Protest+in+Saudi+Arabia

Women driving and protest in Saudi arabia
 * by: Hafsa Sultana**

Thesis //Although it is a debatble issue, many people believe that women should be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.//

Timeline __1990:__ A group of 47 women were arrested for driving and severely punished (mass protest).

__January 2004:__ Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheik Ayed Al-Qarni, stated that Islam doesn't prohibit women from driving (or riding on any animal such as a camel- which was the predominant way of traveling in the middle east when Islam was introduced).

__September 2007:__ The Association for the Protection and Defense of Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia, co-founded by Wajeha al-Huwaider and Fawzia al-Uyyouni, submitted a 1,100-signature petition to King Abdullah asking for women to be allowed to drive.

__May 2011:__ Street protests occured in and near Qatif and the beginning of women's driving campaign took place.

__June 2011:__ 30-40 women drove cars around Saudi for women's driving campaign



The issue of women driving in Saudi Arabia has been a topic of debate in many countries. Women in Saudi are considering themselves being discriminated by the government because of not being able to drive. The Saudi government has banned women from driving in Saudi due to the effects which might result the country into facing many problems. Their justifcation of the ban is women's own safety. However, there are many people who oppose the ban and support the women's driving rights. They believe that the ban is not justified by religious evidence. They are also concerned with many safety hazards women might have to face with the disablity to drive (ex. dealing with an injury, fire, robbery, etc). Since 1990, many protests have sprung across Saudi for lifting the ban, and is forcing the government to allow the women to drive.



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media type="youtube" key="IEETb3SOuc4" width="425" height="350"
 * This video shows women around Saudi Arabia stating reasons why they should be allowed to drive (ex. safety). Some of them are even supported by their husbands and use the social media to get their messege spread. **