Saudi Arabia Lifts Ban on Women Driving

[Dashinka 23,241]

Progress!

 

By 

Margherita Stancati

Updated Sept. 26, 2017 3:49 p.m. ET

 

RIYADH—Saudi Arabia on Tuesday lifted the ban on women driving, removing a restriction that had become a symbol of women’s oppression in the deeply conservative kingdom.

The announcement, made by King Salman through a royal decree, says women will be officially allowed to obtain driving licenses in Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where women weren’t allowed to drive. 

The decree will go into effect in June next year, after a government committee will study how to begin allowing women onto the roads driving their own vehicles.

 

“We refer to the negative consequences of not allowing women to drive, and the positive aspects of allowing them to do so, taking into consideration the necessary Shari’ah regulations and compliance with them,” King Salman said in the decree, referring to Islamic law. 

Saudi Arabia practices one of the world’s strictest interpretations of Sunni Islam, and the kingdom’s religious establishment have long exercised extensive political sway. 

But under the leadership of King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi monarchy is pushing to relax social rules as part of an ambitious program focused on opening up the oil-dependent economy.

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-lifts-ban-on-women-driving-1506455054

[RJandHamid 1,128]

Great news, it's a small step toward progress. I hope they follow through with this and it's actually implemented by June 2018. I'm a little worried it will be challenged by political or religious groups.

[charmander 692]

Woo hooo let's celebrate

 

[bcking 3,157]

49 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Progress!

 

By 

Margherita Stancati

Updated Sept. 26, 2017 3:49 p.m. ET

 

RIYADH—Saudi Arabia on Tuesday lifted the ban on women driving, removing a restriction that had become a symbol of women’s oppression in the deeply conservative kingdom.

The announcement, made by King Salman through a royal decree, says women will be officially allowed to obtain driving licenses in Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world where women weren’t allowed to drive. 

The decree will go into effect in June next year, after a government committee will study how to begin allowing women onto the roads driving their own vehicles.

 

“We refer to the negative consequences of not allowing women to drive, and the positive aspects of allowing them to do so, taking into consideration the necessary Shari’ah regulations and compliance with them,” King Salman said in the decree, referring to Islamic law. 

Saudi Arabia practices one of the world’s strictest interpretations of Sunni Islam, and the kingdom’s religious establishment have long exercised extensive political sway. 

But under the leadership of King Salman and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi monarchy is pushing to relax social rules as part of an ambitious program focused on opening up the oil-dependent economy.

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-lifts-ban-on-women-driving-1506455054

 

Um....give them keys and let them sit in the driver's seat?

 

It's funny they need a committee for that. Are they planning to make like special lanes for women or something?

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

10 minutes ago, bcking said:

 

Um....give them keys and let them sit in the driver's seat?

It's funny they need a committee for that. Are they planning to make like special lanes for women or something?

No, this has been on the picture for awhile now for the KSA, it is because ALL the other Muslim countries around it allow women to drive. So there are Saudi women who live in Dubai who have gone back on vacation or whatever and actually got into trouble for driving. 

 

I really think the one pushing this is Crown Prince Salman. He is the De Facto ruler of the Kingdom now because he is first in line to rule after his father the King steps down(which supposedly be sometime later this year or next), and he is seen to be a very Moderate person. He is the one trying to bring KSA into the 21st Century. So kudos to them for finally doing this. 

Edited September 26, 2017 by cyberfx1024

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

2 hours ago, bcking said:

 

Um....give them keys and let them sit in the driver's seat?

 

It's funny they need a committee for that. Are they planning to make like special lanes for women or something?

That is a great idea. And sammich making rest stops

[Boiler 43,433]

 

[bcking 3,157]

17 hours ago, cyberfx1024 said:

No, this has been on the picture for awhile now for the KSA, it is because ALL the other Muslim countries around it allow women to drive. So there are Saudi women who live in Dubai who have gone back on vacation or whatever and actually got into trouble for driving. 

 

I really think the one pushing this is Crown Prince Salman. He is the De Facto ruler of the Kingdom now because he is first in line to rule after his father the King steps down(which supposedly be sometime later this year or next), and he is seen to be a very Moderate person. He is the one trying to bring KSA into the 21st Century. So kudos to them for finally doing this. 

I was just poking fun at the fact that they seem to think it is going to be really complicated to allow women to drive and they need a committee to plan it out.

 

I absolutely support them making these steps. My wife has been offered jobs with Aramco on a few occassions but would never work with them because of the working environement, especially when travelling to Saudi Arabia. This is a step in the right direction.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

Question, from pure curiosity:  will the women be permitted or required to lift their veils for a driver's license photo, or prohibited from doing so?

[Boiler 43,433]

53 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Question, from pure curiosity:  will the women be permitted or required to lift their veils for a driver's license photo, or prohibited from doing so?

I assume the male family member with them would be responsible?

[Dashinka 23,241]

58 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Question, from pure curiosity:  will the women be permitted or required to lift their veils for a driver's license photo, or prohibited from doing so?

The headline writer should have taken a cue from you on this one.  The headline should have read "Saudi Arabia Lifts Veil on Women Driving"

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

What's really amazing in this thread is not one MDL has found a way to make it a Trump is satan/Hitler thread 

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

3 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Question, from pure curiosity:  will the women be permitted or required to lift their veils for a driver's license photo, or prohibited from doing so?

This is a common misconception actually that women in Saudia Arabia have to wear veils/nijab when in fact they don't. The women in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia have to wear a Hijab/Khimar and a Abaya to go out in public. This includes non-Muslims as well and this order is strictly enforced by the religious police in the country. 

 

The only ones wearing a nijab which is a full face veil either covering the eyes or leaving slots for the eyes adhere to the more traditional or extreme form of Islam. That means either they themselves adhere to it or their family does, in which means they have to as well. 

 

Edited September 27, 2017 by cyberfx1024

[TBoneTX 43,058]

Interesting indeed.

And so female tourists are also subject to this dress code?

 

The picture raises a new question:  How do they see out of a burqa?

 

Sidebar (lifelong) question:  I've always wondered how English sheepdogs can see.

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

15 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Interesting indeed.

And so female tourists are also subject to this dress code?

 

The picture raises a new question:  How do they see out of a burqa?

 

Sidebar (lifelong) question:  I've always wondered how English sheepdogs can see.

Good questions TBone.

 

Yes, female tourists are subject to this dress code as well in Saudi Arabia, while in the surrounding Muslim countries(ie UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain) there is no mandatory dress, but tourists and Western women are advised to wear "Modest Clothes". 

 

The burqa is primarily a Central Asian custom which if you notice there is like a mesh opening for them to see out and you can't really the face inside. While the full face nijab is kind of see through like you can see out but you can't see in, it's like a mesh as well. The women wearing a nijab you see in restaurants have to face toward the wall while eating because they have to lift up the veil to get the food/drink in the mouth.

 

Contrary to common misconception it is not a Islamic requirement to wear a nijab or burka at all. But this is still open to debate between Moderates and Conservative Islamic sects that is debated today, but it is a requirement to wear a hijab.