Are Saudi Women breaking the ban against women driving
A Saudi Women who returned to Saudi Arabia two years ago was tempted to start driving immediately. She found herself stuck at home with two cars but no driver as her husband and eldest son were both away. "But I waited for the right time; I waited for other ladies to go first" she says. As no-one stepped forward; she has decided that now is the moment.
Ms Najla Hariri holds a driving license from both Egypt and Lebanon from her time living abroad, and also has an international license that she uses when she drives in Europe. The mother of five has the support of her husband and says her daughters and their friends are very proud of her. She knows however that she could be stopped at any moment by the police.
One of the rights Saudi women are deprived of is driving. Due to this there is about four million foreign drivers in the country and Saudi women would like to get rid of them and drive themselves.
This is part of Saudi traditions regarding women. All women, regardless of age, are required to have a male guardian. Women cannot vote or be elected to high political positions. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving. Saudi Arabia is ranked 130th out of 134 countries for gender parity. It was the only country to score a zero in the category of political empowerment.
The Saudi society gets its Gender rules from Sharia (Islamic law) and tribal culture. The Arabian peninsula is the ancestral home of nomadic tribes, in which separation of women and men has to do with honor.
While some women are against this there is evidence that many women in Saudi Arabia do not want radical change. Even many advocates of reform describe foreign countries' critics as failing to understand the uniqueness of Saudi society.
Opponents of women driving argue that it's safer for females to have a male in the car with them, and that they are honouring their women by relieving them of the strain of driving.
To this She says:"They are lying to themselves," replies Ms Hariri forcefully. "It is safer for women to drive themselves. We have four million foreign drivers [in the country] and we'd like to get rid of them and drive ourselves."
Najla Hariri's challenge to Saudi society is part of a wider effort for greater female participation in the whole of society.
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