Women's Right to Drive

Impassioned opinion piece in the March 14, 2016 edition of the English language daily Saudi Gazette, calling for women to get the official right to drive in Saudi Arabia, from one of the women serving in the Shura Legislative Council of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Thuraya al-Areed. The text is pasted below, and a link to the story is here.




Dr. Thuraya Al-Areed
RECENTLY we celebrated the World Women’s Day, remembering women’s great achievements and at the same time reminding the world of their many sufferings. On this occasion, we also remembered the circumstances that helped women to prove their capabilities to make outstanding contributions to society. At the same time we expressed our deep sorrow over the continuing suffering of the vast majority of women around the world.
With the support of modern technology we can now see what used to be hidden behind the walls. We have seen a video clip of violence against a little girl named Noura, who was sexually abused by her father, that went viral on Twitter. It was followed by a WhatsApp campaign to support Noura and save her from the deviant father. Social media also discussed the role of the Justice Ministry, Social Affairs Ministry and the Shoura Council in protecting the girl, especially after her mother had threatened to take legal action against her for slandering her parents.
During a WhatsApp conversation, an educated young Saudi man asked me about the progress achieved by women in general in the last three years since women members were appointed to the Shoura Council. He bluntly asked me what did we achieve for women as Shoura members. He also asked why we did not call for a resolution that would provide woman all her rights as a citizen, including the right to drive. He wanted his wife to support him in all affairs of life, instead of becoming a burden on him. I apologized to him for failing to win a positive decision on women driving yet.
Life would become much easier if Saudi women, among them your sisters and wives, were able to drive inside their country like they do abroad and like women in other parts of the world. Our continued hesitation will only delay a decision on this all-important issue and we will pay dearly for this indecision at economic and social levels.
The Shoura Council has achieved a lot for women in the past three years. The most important among them was the approval of a proposal to amend the Personal Status Act. The motion received 96 votes against 23. The move was aimed at correcting social customs and negative practices and protecting the rights of families, especially children. The legislation also sought to stop individual excesses and mutual hatred while putting an end to the practice of taking revenge against the weaker side, including children.
Every man does not follow the Shariah instructions with regard to family
relationship and give woman her rights based on the Qur’anic teaching: “Either keep her in an acceptable manner or release her with good treatment.” Every day we hear about cases of children and their mothers suffering as a result of their father refusing to give them their birth certificates and other documents to prove their nationality or preventing them from traveling abroad or renewing their passports.
These abhorrent practices occur at all levels of society, irrespective of their educational and financial status, not to mention sexual harassment and bullying. Criminal charges should be brought against people who are accused of committing such offenses.
The call for preventing crimes against women and children does not mean men get their full rights. But women in their present condition are unable to protect their rights and the rights of their children even if they maintain strong bonds with their sons to fill the vacuum created by the head of the family. As a result of this, the amendment of the Personal Status Act became necessary to protect the rights of women and children from the deviant mentality and evil intentions of the male head of the family.
In an atmosphere of official and social laxity, people often try to circumvent rules and regulations and violate the rights of the weaker sections of society. As a result, women right issues in the Kingdom draw the media attention all over the world. In every society there will be special issues apart from the general ones like the demands for equality and human rights. Here we want to restore the right to driving a car.
On the Women’s Day and in the era of firmness, decisiveness and justice, I foresee that women would receive all their rights. I am optimistic about our decision-makers when I ask them when we will celebrate the decision to give women all the rights of citizenship. Women issues in our country are smeared with burning tears, if not bloody bruises. Individual dealings often contradict with established rights that protect women and children against oppression, harassment and dispossession of their legitimate rights, such as chastity, inheritance and wage.

Saudi man fined for letting sister drive family car in Al Qateef

 

Story from Gulf News. A link to the story is here, and the story is pasted in below.

 Traffic police book woman for driving without license

• By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
• Published: 09:13 June 30, 2013

Manama: A Saudi man was fined SR900 for letting his sister drive the family car.

The woman, 23, was arrested by a police patrol in Al Qateef, in the Eastern Province, for driving, even though her brother, 17, was riding with her.

The traffic police impounded the car for seven days, asked the young woman, who works at a local hotel, to sign a pledge not to “repeat the violation” and booked her for breaking the rules by driving without a driving licence, Saudi daily Al Sharq reported.

The case will be reviewed by an interior ministry agency.

 
Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia even though there is no legal text that bans the practice.

Attempts to change the situation and lift the restrictions have been fiercely resisted by conservatives who saw in it a source of immense social and moral problems.

In November last year, Nassima Al Sadah became the third Saudi woman, after Manal Al Sharif and Samar Badawi, to file a lawsuit over the ban for women to apply for driving licences in Saudi Arabia.

In December, Dr Thurayyah Al Aredh, writing for the Saudi Gazette, defended the right of women to drive, arguing that Saudi women would be “a lot safer” driving themselves.

Dr Thurayyah said that, although she held a driving licence that she acquired while she was a university student abroad, she was unable to drive in her own country.

“I have not been able to use this driving licence since I returned home,” she wrote. “Three decades have passed with me waiting hopelessly for the Interior Ministry to reach a decision allowing women to drive. Such a decision will rid us of the need to employ foreign drivers and live under their mercy. Women driving cars is not a fashion trend or an ostentatious phenomenon, but a real and pressing need.”

Dr Thurayyah said that “importing of drivers has become more perilous than the recruitment of housemaids.”

“As soon as the drivers know our streets, they will not fail to find those who will give them all kinds of criminal advice,” she wrote.

“Time has come to do away with the millions of the foreign drivers in our country. Let Saudi women drive and the problem will be solved forever. By driving our own cars, we will save a lot of resources for the economy. We will be a lot safer as well and we will sleep in peace and security,” she wrote.

Women will be a lot safer driving themselves

Excellent opinion piece in today's Saudi Gazette (originally in Al-Jazira) by Dr. Thurayyah Al-Aredh. A link to the story is here, and the text is pasted below.

by Dr. Thurayyah Al-Aredh

THE other evening we were invited to a party in Bahrain by a Saudi friend who shuttles between both countries. When we arrived at the venue, our host was not there to receive us. After a long wait he arrived visibly worried and upset.

He explained to us that the foreign driver who was driving his wife and kids was apprehended by the Saudi authorities on King Fahd Causeway for trying to smuggle some bottles of whisky. He said he had to go to the causeway to drive his family back home.

I have to admit that this is not the first time I hear about the arrest of a family driver on the causeway for smuggling of liquor. Personally I have been without a driver for about a whole year now after we have decided not to bring back our Filipino driver because of his numerous violations and stealing of our household goods.

My husband and my son are working in Riyadh. We are away from each other but I am certain that living away from the family is somewhat easier than living without a car.

The sad side of the story is that I am a holder of a driving license which I acquired while I was a university student abroad. I have not been able to use this driving license since I returned home.

Three decades have passed with me waiting hopelessly for the Interior Ministry to reach a decision allowing women to drive. Such a decision will rid us of the need to employ foreign drivers and live under their mercy. Women driving cars is not a fashion trend or an ostentatious phenomenon but a real and pressing need.

The faltering relationship between the importers of workers and the foreign manpower themselves has its adverse effects deepening the tension in our families and homes. The two sides have been exchanging accusations that included lies and distorted facts. These accusations culminate in defamation and financial loss.

Foreign manpower has been accused of all vices including child abuse, physical violence, sorcery, brewing and smuggling of alcohol and murder. On their part, the foreign workers have been accusing their sponsors of exploiting them, not paying their salaries and even physically abusing them.

I often ask myself: What makes us import foreign house helps? Can’t we ever do without them? Are there no solutions except for recruitment with all its evils?

It is quite justifiable to import foreign manpower to work in the advanced technological fields but to bring them to work in our homes and live among our families is not understandable. We should seek alternate solutions to our needs other than recruitment.

The importing of drivers has become more perilous than the recruitment of housemaids. As soon as the drivers know our streets, they will not fail to find those who will give them all kinds of criminal advice.

Time has come to get rid of the millions of the foreign drivers in our country. Let the Saudi women drive and the problem will be solved forever. By driving our own cars we will save a lot of resources for the economy. We will be a lot safer as well and will sleep in peace and security.