Apparently, a woman driving her own car in Saudi Arabia is against their religion and is punishable by law. But that didn't stop a woman named Manal al-Sheriff from taking a brave stand by posting a video of herself driving on YouTube. Too bad, things didn't exactly go well for her right after. Click on the video to see what happened to her:
Video via noramist on Youtube
However, online campaigns like what she did are pushing Saudi Arabian women to defy the odds and take to the road. The campaigns started two months ag,o announcing that on June 17, today, women should be given the right to drive on the roads of Saudi Arabia. Women activists led the campaigns, thinking that although this right may not be granted A-SAP, at least the whole world will notice which, in time, could prove beneficial. Now, let's go a bit deeper in the issue, shall we?
What happens to Saudi women if they drive?
There really is no law per se that recognizes the action as unlawful and, thus, deemed to be punishable by law. However, since it is against their religion, the police arrests and detains these women until men that are related to them pick them up and sign a waiver that they will never make their women relative drive again. The women will then make a promise that they will never drive by themselves again.
Reasons as to why they should be given the right to drive
Deeply sensible and reasonable factors were given by the Saudi Arabian women as to why they should be granted the right to drive. Here are two points that are being raised.
Convenience - due to the fact that they are not allowed to drive by themselves, men relatives or drivers are required to do it for them. The impracticality is pretty much screaming at everyone's faces here. The cost of having to hire a driver is a very relevant factor as well as the effort and the availability of their male relatives should be considered. The idea of having the availability of another person to be a factor on when or where to go is such a hassle to add to the things that should be considered.
Safety - not to be a bigot or to generalize but Saudi Arabia does not really have the safest cab drivers in the world for them to be able to back this "law" up. It is undeniably a lot safer if women will be allowed to drive themselves than to entrust their safety to cab drivers (especially with the numerous unsolved rape cases and the sketchy law process on rape but yes, that's another story).
As for us at Techie, we are all for the fairer sex being behind the wheel. We'll be keeping a keen-eye on this issue to see if the efforts of the brave Saudi women won't be for naught.
Via Mashable
Source Saudi Women for Driving
Image democratherald
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