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Saudi Arabia's #Women2Drive
Saudi Arabia's #Women2Drive
Despite warnings from the government, Saudi female activists are preparing a mass right-to-drive protest against their country's ban on women drivers.-
Save the date: Rajab 15th/June 17th. http://yfrog.com/kjq9ulj #women2drive #saudi #women #sawagna #gender
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A Facebook campaign called Women2Drive says Saudi women will begin driving their cars starting June 17 until an official decree allowing women to drive is issued.
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Organizers posted instructions for women who intend to take part at the #women2drive day June 17 http://on.fb.me/iNiXzq [ARABIC]
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@alphaleah Yes. Could be fun if some men wore chadors & niqab & drove & cops pulled them up thinking they were women! #Women2drive #Saudi
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Last month, Manal Al Sharif, a 32-year-old Saudi woman, was detained for two weeks after driving and posting a video of herself defying the driving ban on the internet. In the video, Al Sharif says women need to learn how to drive in order to protect themselves and their families. Additionally, not all women can afford to hire private drivers, she says.
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Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world in which women cannot drive. Additional prohibitions against taking buses, riding bikes, and appearing in public alone essentially rule out independent travel for women.
Saudi Arabia actually has no formal ban against women driving. Women have been detained for driving without a licence, which are only issued to men.
Some Saudis are not optimistic about the protest having any real effect on women's rights in the country because activists have no plans for "serious dialogue" with the government.
Saudi women hold mixed views on Friday's driving protest campaign http://t.co/pkqwoQc #saudiarabia #women2drive
However, an online petition calling for improvement in women's rights is now being circulated. Activists say it will be sent to the Shura Council and office of King Abdullah.
This Saudi woman posted a video of herself driving around her house. In it, she says she was inspired by videos posted by other women, but her actions are about much more than simply the right to drive a car.
Last week six Saudi women were detained for driving without a licence in Riyadh.
Saudi arrests six women for driving in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ...: Saudi authorities detained six women on Thursda... http://bit.ly/iAeOYF
All six women drivers have since been released. One of the detained women, Rasha al-Duwaisi, said in an interview with Reuters:
"It's my right to drive and my right to know how to drive. I suffer because I can't drive because I have to rely on a driver that I share with four others."
The story of the such activists like Manal Al Sharif has reached an international audience and even inspired an online driving school.
A #DrivingSchool is named after @manal_alsharif in #UK http://t.co/WKtntwL #FreeManal #Women2Drive #SaudiWomen #Sudi
A screenshot from the website:
Manaldrivingschool.com today is a virtual driving school, offering information & driver education to future drivers, particularly women, who for cultural reasons prefer or are required to learn from a female driving instructor.
Some people outside of Saudi Arabia are expressing support for Saudi women drivers.
YouTube videos of drivers Honking for Saudi Women http://t.co/wvQHCer If I had a car I'd be honking like crazy! #Women2Drive
Support Saudi Women's Right to Drive! http://t.co/4nLJxDa
I wish all the ladies who are going to drive on the !7th all the best,I hope it'll end up the way we are hoping 4. #Women2drive #Saudi
#women2drive #saudiwomen !! Sooner or later you are all gonna drive. However, it seems to be sooner than we all predicted. Make it happen.
The Stream spoke with "Noura", a woman who has been detained for driving and asked to be interviewed anonymously.
Updates 06-17-2011:
Today, women in Saudi will challenge the driving ban, risking arrest, loss of jobs & children. This Suffragette-level bravery. #women2drive
"@nawwarah82 @AJStream if the ban on #women2drive in Saudi is bc of fear of harassment why penalize the victim as appose 2 the perpetrator?"
It's a little ridiculous, but the reason I'm not driving today is a direct result of the ban: I don't know how to. #Saudi #women2drive
Just got back from a drive around with my dad! #women2drive
Challenge the ban of driving and suddenly many parallels will emerge. #Women2Drive
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