New proposal calls for granting licences to men and women alike

This story appeared in the Gulf News dated September 13, 2017. A link to the story is here, and the story is pasted in below.

Supporters are hoping the recommendation will this time be endorsed by the 150-member Shura council

Published: 14:35 September 12, 2017

Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief

Manama: A recommendation to allow Saudi women to drive will be submitted to the Shura Council within one month, a member of the Saudi advisory body has said.
“A high number of Shura members are interested in the issue, and 20 members have expressed their open support to it,” the member who was not named said, quoted by Saudi daily Okaz on Monday.

Supporters are hoping the recommendation will this time be endorsed by the 150-member council.
In 2013, members Haya Al Maniie, Lateefa Al Shaalan and Muna Al Mushait submitted a motion to the Shura calling for allowing Saudi women to drive, within a religious framework.
However, the motion was turned down by the Council.
“The new proposal calls for amending Article 36 of the Traffic Law on the conditions to acquire a driving licence. Under the new proposal, a new paragraph will be introduced, stipulating that “the driving licence is a right for men and women alike when conditions are met, the Shura member said.
“The proposal was accompanied by a note explaining it, based on a comprehensive study showing the importance of establishing this requirement according to a scientific vision that took into consideration the social, economic, cultural, legal, security and other dimensions. The legal basis for the proposal is consistent with the system of state governance.”
There is legal text banning women from driving in Saudi Arabia and the issue is related mainly to social traditions.
The de facto ban has been at times challenged by women who drove on roads and highways, alone or with relatives, but they were accused of “stirring up public opinion” and made to sign commitments not to drive again. The women were held accountable for not holding valid driving licences.
The debate over allowing women to drive has been omnipresent on social media in Saudi Arabia with both camps using religious, social, cultural and economic arguments.
The presence of thousands of males to drive mainly Saudi women and girls has been regularly used by supporters of allowing women to drive to highlight negative social and economic problems.
The Saudi Shura Council comprises 30 women.

Saudi Shoura member in favor of women driving

 The Saudi English language daily The Arab News published this story on April 17, 2017. It was translated from a story that appeared in the Saudi daily Okaz. A link to the story is here, and the text is pasted below.

RIYADH: Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, head of Shoura Council’s committee on economy and energy, said he is in favor of women driving “as long as there is a clear system to enable them to drive.”
He said in an interview with Okaz newspaper that Shoura Council members should not be silent on this issue.
Al-Rashed said the extent of criticism they receive indicates high expectations from the council. He said the council does not serve a certain category of people but rather, plays a monitoring role, participates in legislations, studies government departments’ reports and issues recommendations aimed at improving the performance of those entities.
He said all members deal with the issues discussed and vote on them, but do not form blocs.
Women’s participation in the council is developing every day, he said. “Their presence in the council is positive. They propose discussions on important issues related to society.”
Rejecting proposals or recommendations is done by the members of the council themselves.
“No hidden hands prevent the council proposals,” he said. “There are no restrictions as Article 23 gives a member the right to file proposals.”
He said the issue of women driving had been discussed in the council, and the traffic department does not have a law preventing them from driving.
He said the question is how to enable them to drive — if there is a clear regulation that allows women to drive “then I am with it, especially as there is no Sharia restriction on the issue.”

Saudi Shura member argues for women’s right to drive

The Gulf News reports on the impassioned argument by Dr. Latifa Al Shaalan, a female member of the Shura Council in favor of women driving. A link to the story is here, and the text is below. The speaker is an associate professor of Psychology, and addresses the many contradictory and challenging issues surrounding the question of women driving. This blogger believes her voice, being raised in this forum, is significant.

Women members of the Saudi Shura Council

Manama: A female member of the Saudi Shura (Consultative) Council has issued a strong appeal to allow women to drive, saying that it was a right that cannot be denied on religious, social or economic grounds.

Addressing a council session, Dr Latifa Al Shaalan said the claim that “the time is not appropriate yet to allow women to drive as the country is facing internal and external challenges” was not true or valid.

“We have been facing internal and external challenges since the state was founded by King Abdul Aziz, and if we look carefully at our history in the last 50 years, we will say, according to this logic, that no time was ever appropriate to allow women to drive since we are always in the midst of a tumultuous ocean of challenges,” she said, quoted by Saudi daily Okaz on Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia is a vast and influential country with great political weight located in a sweltering region, and it is normal that it faces numerous challenges, she added.

“However, these challenges cannot stall reforms and if we embrace their distorted logic, then development, reforms and progress in all areas would have stopped since the existence of challenges makes the time for them inappropriate,” she said.

Al Shaalan, a writer and an associate professor of psychology, also refuted the claim that society was not ready to accept the idea of women driving cars.

“It is incredible how some people demonised Saudi men and considered him a beast always ready to jump on women. This prejudice has been repeated so often that it has become a label characterising Saudi men wherever they go in Saudi Arabia or abroad. It is an unfair characterisation because Saudi men carry in them and with them genuine Islamic morals and Arab values. The young people that we rush to discredit and turn into demons are in fact our sons who grew up in our homes and graduated from our schools. They often competed in serving people honestly and protecting our national borders. There are of course exceptions, but these are deterred by the law,” she said.
The claim that Saudi society is different from other societies is unacceptable and offensive, she added.

“How is the society in Yemen, Tunisia, Egypt, Iran and Pakistan safe and allows its women to drive, while our Saudi society with all its great values not safe? The allegation that our society is not ready for women drivers is not supported by the reality on the ground. Our society has accepted the various reforms, such as the membership of women in the Shura Council and the holding of municipal elections. Our society is mature and the political authority is strong, stable and determined to deter those who break the public order,” she said.

The allegation that allowing women to drive was not a priority for the country was a fallacious argument, Al Shaalan said.

“This claim has opened the door for a wide array of erroneous assertion, as if allowing women to drive would prevent addressing other issues such as unemployment and housing. Rights cannot be categorised by priorities because nobody has the right to decide the scale of priorities which differ vastly depending on their conditions. What is a priority for some is not necessarily a priority for others.”

The Shura member said that not allowing women to drive has caused them great harm and stalled their rights and interests.

“This is totally unfair because one of the major aims of Islam is to ensure justice for all. Islam has asserted equality between men and women in the origin of creation, responsibilities and tasks. Islam has asserted equality in human dignity and civil rights, such as choosing the spouse, ownership, and all kinds of selling and purchasing transactions. How is it possible that after all these advantages granted by Islam, women are not allowed to drive?”

Al Shaalan argued that allowing women to drive would be beneficial for the national economy and would empower women economically, especially that unemployment rates among women were high.
“The fact that women cannot move easily is a formidable obstacle to them getting jobs, especially in the private sector,” she said.

The 150-seat Shura Council has 30 women members.

Saudi advisory council rejects study of women driving

Now AFP has come out with a more nuanced report on what happened in the Shoura Council, it was a proposal to make a study about women driving. Apparently this proposal was rejected, seemingly over the proper process.... A link to the story is here, and the text is below, taken from the UK's Daily Mail of November 2, 2016.

Saudi Arabia's Shura Council, which advises the cabinet, has turned down a proposal to study the issue of women's driving, a Shura member told AFP on Wednesday.
The kingdom has some of the world's tightest restrictions on women, and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.
At a meeting this week, a male member of the appointed council suggested the study, said another member who declined to be named.
He said the enquiry would have looked at: "What are the difficulties if they start? What is required to allow them to drive?"

But the proposal failed to get the required 50 percent plus one support among the council's 150 members, who include 30 women.
The council can make non-binding recommendations to the government but it has no legislative powers.
Activists say women's driving is not technically illegal but that the ban is linked to tradition and custom.
A slow expansion of women's rights began under the late king Abdullah, who named them to the Shura Council in 2013.
He also announced that women could for the first time vote and run in municipal elections. At least 20 women were elected for the 2,106 contested council seats last December.
Some activists have challenged the driving ban by getting behind the wheel and posting images of themselves online.
Other Saudi women, however, believe change cannot be forced -- a message the kingdom's powerful Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 31, gave in April when he unveiled the Vision 2030 plan for economic diversification and social change.
"So far the society is not persuaded -- and it has negative influence -- but we stress that it is up to the Saudi society," he said, commenting on whether women should drive.
The Vision and its associated National Transformation Programme target an increase in the proportion of female workforce participation from 23 to 28 percent by 2020.

Saudi Shoura Council rejects recommendation on women drivers

From the al-Arabiyyah news in the US, comes this story dated October 31, 2016. A link to the story is here and the text is pasted below. I have not seen any domestic news reports of this and am trying to get confirmation.

Al Arabiya English News Monday, 31 October 2016

The Saudi Shoura Council rejected a recommendation on women driving cars, in its meeting on Monday.

The council, decided earlier to convene to discuss a bill to “foster an environment conducive to legalize female driving.”

While some say that in Saudi Arabia, no penal code exists that explicitly states that women are forbidden from driving, and that the government simply does not issue licenses to women, some Saudi Shoura Council members reopened discussion on women driving in the country.

Last Update: Monday, 31 October 2016 KSA 20:08 - GMT 17:08

Saudi Woman Arrested for Driving as Parliament Prepares to Deliberate Removing Ban

According to this article in Breitbart, the Saudi Shura Council is about to take up a discussion of the issue of women driving.A link to the story is here,  and the text is below. This discussion will be on the heels of another arrest of a woman driving in Mecca. The story is by Ali Wakid, dated October 24, 2016.

A young Saudi woman was arrested after police were notified she was driving a car in Mecca.

The woman, together with two male passengers, was handed over to the vice squad after intoxicating substances were found in the car.
The three will be indicted for illegal driving and gender mixing.
Meanwhile, the Shura Council, Saudi Arabia’s parliament, will convene next week to discuss a bill to “foster an environment conducive to legalize female driving.”
Sultan al Sultan MP has asked the Ministry of Labor and Social Development and the Interior Ministry to carry out a study into the matter. Speaking to Al Hayat newspaper, he said that his proposal was meant to alleviate difficulties of transportation that families incur given the fact that women are not allowed to drive.
In addition, he said, the cost of hiring a chauffeur often deters women from entering the labor market.
“That’s why female driving has become a social issue that requires review in light of the social and security situation, on top of the behavioral consequences that children face by virtue of having a stranger around all the time,” he said, providing an economic motive to boot: “More than a million foreigners work here as chauffeurs, sending their countries more than 1 billion riyal [$250 million] monthly. We would be better off if this sum was invested in developing our country.”
“We need to provide for a social environment, especially when it comes to young drivers, and to provide for an acceptable driving culture,” he added.
Also on Sunday, the head of the Saudi Chamber of Commerce in the kingdom’s south-east said that women “make up 50 per cent of university graduates but only 22 per cent of the workforce.”
He said he hoped that Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030 plan would help reduce that disparity.

2 Saudi deputies call for lifting driving ban

It has been reported that two deputies to the Saudi consultative council, the Shura Council, have called for the issue of women driving to be debated again. This story is from Emirates 24/7 and was posted on April 19, 2016. A link to the story is here and the story is pasted below.

Two female members of Saudi Arabia’s appointed Parliament have called for lifting a long-standing ban on driving by women.
Haya Al Manei and Latifa Al Shaalan, members of Shura council, said there should be a fresh parliamentary debate on the issue following the council’s failure over the past years to approve a decision to permit women to drive cars.
“There should be a new debate on allowing women to drive cars…the Shura should refer the issue to the concerned authorities before it votes on it. We have formally requested a debate,” Al Manei said, quoted by the Saudi Arabic language daily Sada.
She said there is a need to lift the ban on driving by women following a series of decisions allowing them to join Shura, vote in election and work in most sectors.

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.

Right to drive is just part of a bigger picture

Saudi journalist and blogger Sabria Jawhar wrote this in the Saudi daily Arab News on June 23, 2014. A link to the story is here, and the text is pasted in below.

There’s been some hoopla recently over a proposal from two Shoura Council members to allow Saudi women to obtain an international driver’s license in the Kingdom that would permit them to drive in foreign countries.

Possessing an international driver’s license at one time was seen as a path toward obtaining a Saudi driver’s license that would allow women to legally drive in Saudi Arabia. Authorities, however, refused to issue international licenses to Saudi women. It’s a good thing that the issue is now before the Shoura Council, but it is by no means the most important thing. In fact, it’s really a minor side issue to a much larger picture: The representation of Saudi women in government.

Both Saudi and western human rights activists have been preoccupied with the women’s driving issue as if it will cure all ills. While it is important that Saudi women have the right to drive a car, it does not solve the perplexing issue that many of us are denied some rights.

Instead, driving right is only a stepping-stone to full equality guaranteed to women in Islam. That is the thinking of Latifa Al-Shaalan and Haya Al-Mani, the two women Shoura Council members who introduced the amendment that would allow women to obtain an international driver’s license. And the fact the amendment is about driver’s licenses is irrelevant.

 It’s more about the power of these two women who drafted the amendment, introduced it to the Shoura Council and having it sent to the proper committee for approval before being put before the Council for a vote.

If there were an argument that it’s better to work within the system than externally, the work of Al-Shaalan and Al-Mani would be the perfect example.

As we have witnessed since 1992, female driving demonstrations have had limited impact on Saudi women’s rights, other than to antagonize certain elements and whip up western activists who project their own feminist ideals on a culture they barely understand. On the other hand, conservatives have cleverly found ways to tamp down on demonstrations by putting pressure on the men in families to curb their daughters and sisters, impounding cars and waging whisper campaigns.

But Al-Shaalan and Al-Mani force the issue of women’s rights to the surface. By introducing the international driver’s license amendment, they force every Shoura Council member to reveal his or her position on the issue. It’s unlikely that the amendment will ever pass, but there will be little doubt exactly where the Shoura Council stands. And if the amendment should pass and become a recommendation of the Council, then the tired argument that “Saudi women will drive when Saudi society is ready” will be put to the test.

But whether the amendment passes or fails is beside the point. The proposal and others like it drafted by female Shoura Council members will result in accountability at the highest levels. Every time a proposal is made to ensure Saudi women their Islamic rights, every man and woman on the council must stand by their vote to deny such rights and answer to Saudi society why they abdicated their public service and religious responsibilities.

This is the power of a consultative body that measures the wants and needs of the community it serves and comes at a decision via a vote. By appointing 30 women to the Shoura Council, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has introduced a new dynamic never witnessed in Saudi history: The voice of Saudi women — half of Saudi society — and accountability of those individuals who seek to silence that voice.

Email: sabria_j@hotmail.com

Saudi Male Guardianship Protest Sent to Committee

Report from Women's E-News - a link to the story is here, and the story is pasted in below.

By Hajer Naili

WeNews correspondent - Wednesday, March 5, 2014

"I want to feel like I am a Saudi citizen, now I just feel like I am a follower of a man," says a Saudi woman who sympathizes with the petition to abolish male guardianship. Two female members of the Shura Council told a signatory that the petition has been sent to a human rights committee.

(WOMENSENEWS)-- Khuloud Saleh Alfahad runs her own real estate business in the eastern Saudi city of Al Khobar.

But because of male guardianship laws requiring women to have a male escort and consent in almost all aspects of life, she says she feels like a non-person. "I don't have any identity here in Saudi Arabia," she said in a Skype interview. Every woman, even the most conservative, would be happy to see an end to male guardianship, she added. "I want to feel like I am a Saudi citizen, now I just feel like I am a follower of a man."

Alfahad is a Saudi activist who is encouraging women to stand up and speak for themselves. She sympathizes with a petition recently delivered to the 150-member Saudi Shura Council--the formal advisory body of the kingdom--calling for an end of the "absolute male guardianship" over women.

Aziza El-Yousef, one of the authors of the petition, said in a recent Skype interview that the text was sent to 50 members--30 women and 20 men--of the 150-person council. El-Yousef said the only response so far has come from two female members of the Saudi Shura Council, who said in an email that the petition was being transferred to the committee of human rights. "Saudi women cannot get their own official documents such as their passports or birth certificate for their children," said El-Yousef, a mother of five children. "They cannot travel without the authorization of a male guardian, cannot go to work or school without a male approval."

Although press reports have said that the petition is signed by 10 women, El-Yousef said in fact it is signed by 25 women.

Pushing for Other Changes

In addition to seeking the abolition of male guardianship, the petition asks also for changes in the family law in regards to the custody of children and the right of divorce.

Saudi Arabia imposes a strict interpretation of Islamic law, but El-Yousef said all the restrictions imposed on women are "not part of Islam."

The petition also calls for an end of the notorious female driving ban. El-Yousef has been driving in defiance of the ban since 2011. She was arrested in January and detained for four hours at the police station until her husband came and signed her out. Although she was required to sign an agreement not to drive, El-Yousef said she continues to drive in the streets of Riyadh, where she lives.

Three female members of the Shura Council presented a recommendation that women be given the right to drive in October, but the male-dominated assembly blocked the proposal, the Associated Press reported.

The Shura Council is appointed by the king and advises the monarch on policy, but cannot legislate.

Alfahad, the real estate executive in Al Khobar, talks of a "revolution" when asked to comment on the women's movement in Saudi Arabia. "I think there is a revolution now from many women who are not necessarily activists. I am happy with what's happening now and I also have hopes, very strong hopes."

'Mini Revolution' in Families

Alfahad said a "mini revolution" is also taking place inside families. "Even inside some families, girls are being encouraged to ask for their rights."

She sees more and more women behind the wheel in her town as more women take new jobs in the wake of changes in the monarchy that, for instance, allow women to work as sellers and lawyers.
Alfahad criticizes what she calls the "legal violence" institutionalized through the laws in Saudi Arabia.

"This is a violence that doesn't come from my family or the society, it comes from our laws here against women," she said.

Those who support the system of guardianship say it protects women but Alfahad rejects that. "It's to put a woman in a jail so she cannot do anything without a man."

Recently, two cases exposing the dangers to women of the guardianship system made headlines. In February, a female university student died when a crew of male paramedics was prevented from entering her campus by the kingdom's strict rules on sex segregation. More recently, a pregnant student had to give birth on campus after a women-only university in Riyadh denied access to paramedics.

Hajer Naili is a New York-based reporter for Women's eNews. She has worked for several radio stations and publications in France and North Africa and specializes in Middle East and North Africa women in Islam.

Saudi women activists demand end to 'absolute' male control

Lebanon's Daily Star carried this story from AFP, dateline March 2, 2014. A link to the story is here, and the text is below.

RIYADH: Saudi women activists have petitioned the country's consultative council to back a demand to curb the "absolute authority" of male guardians over women in the ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim kingdom, a signatory said.

Saudi Arabia imposes a strict interpretation of Islamic law, forbidding women to work or travel without the authorisation of their male guardians.

It is also the only country in the world that bans women from driving, and a woman cannot obtain an identification card without the consent of her guardian.

Activist Aziza Yousef told AFP that "rights activists have petitioned the Shura (consultative) Council on the occasion of the International Women's Day (on March 8) demanding an end to the absolute authority of men over women".

They demanded "measures to protect (women's) rights," in their petition to the Shura Council, she said.

Laws in the kingdom enforcing such restrictions on women "are not based on religious" teachings, said Yousef.

The petition, signed by 10 female activists, also calls for allowing women to drive.

Women in Saudi must obtain permission from a male guardian to perform "certain surgeries" and to "leave the university campus during study hours," she added.

She cited a recent case in which a pregnant student had to give birth on campus after a women-only university in Riyadh denied access to paramedics.

And a university student died in February after paramedics were prevented from entering her campus because they were not accompanied by a male guardian, a must according to the strict segregation rules in the Muslim kingdom.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia suspended a notification programme that had been running since 2012, which alerted male guardians once women under their custody left the country, even if they were travelling together.

Three female members of the Shura Council presented a recommendation that women be given the right to drive in October, but the male-dominated 150-member assembly blocked the proposal.
The Shura Council is appointed by the king and advises the monarch on policy, but cannot legislate.

(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

Saudi women who want to drive aren't 'wasting your time'

Opinion piece by Badriya al-Bishr in Al Arabiya discussing the way members of the Shura Council reacted to women members who asked to have the issue of women driving discussed. A link to the story is here, and it's pasted in below.

October 16, 2013 - Badriya al-Bishr

The issue of “Women behind the wheel” has found its way to the forefront of domestic issues. Women have decided not to wait for the matter to be settled. After two historic attempts, women have decided to hit the road on October 26th, put the pedal to the metal and go forth to accomplish their aims by themselves. They will record videos of themselves driving on their smartphones and upload them, within minutes, to a YouTube channel.

A therapist drove a car by herself and went to her clinic; she videotaped herself saying: “I will drive my car by myself.” Another woman went out, brought her grandchildren home from school and said: “My son-in-law is an employee and we do not have a driver these days.” A third woman, who did not say anything and remained unknown, drove skillfully on the highway. What was surprising is that traffic police did not apprehend her! Then, we heard that other women were arrested and asked if they had driving licenses – as per the law – but were then released. They told the press that the traffic law does not prevent women from driving, but it requires a driver's license. This is of course another mystery for women to solve: “Where can they get licenses when there is no driving school that will grant women a license?”

Social repercussions

It is crystal clear that the government has finally decided to be professional, and even more, accept the fact and be honest with itself, when some officials stated that allowing women to take the wheel is a social decision. The government has presented an advanced, vital and civilized position, is it strange?

Our government’s stance will surely seem weird compared to the stance of the head of the Shura Council who decided some days ago, during a session of the Council, to accuse three female members of the Shura of wasting time when they submitted to the council a memorandum including legislative, legal and social justifications calling for approving women’s right to drive. He said that the current transportation file that they are discussing has nothing to do with the female driving.

The chairman of the Shura Council is right because the mystery of “women behind the wheel” has nothing to do with the transportation field but it is rather related to NASA’s agency that is based on Saturn, and therefore we shall review the complaint there. My objection here is on the “waste of time” expression, I agree that the discussion of this issue in the Council is a waste of time, but was the clock in the Shura Council broken when it had plenty of time to discuss silly and useless issues? I believe the head of the Shura Council was not keen on making optimum use of time when he called on one of its members to forbid foreign airlines to stop serving alcohol to passengers when they enter Saudi airspace, and when he discussed the need to protect the Arak tree and ease the commercial demands on it.

Therefore, I suggest that all women involved in the “women behind the wheel” campaign carry with them an Arak tree because the Council may be forced to intervene to protect the arak tree.

Hard luck Shura council.

Do not forget to turn off the lights after your sessions, in order to save energy.

_____________________________
Dr. Badria al-Bishr is a multi-award-winning Saudi columnist and novelist. A PhD graduate from the American University of Beirut, and an alumnus of the U.S. State Department International Visitor program. Her columns put emphasis on women and social issues in Saudi Arabia. She currently lectures at King Saud University's Department of Social Studies.

Saudi Shura Council women urge female driving ban lifted

This is major news, that female members of the Saudi Consultative Shura Council are recommending that the driving ban be lifted. .

A link to the story, originally from AFP (dated October 8, 2013) - is printed in the Al-Ahram and the link to it is here, and the text is pasted in below.

Three female Saudi Shura Council members call for lifting ban on women driving

Three female members of Saudi Arabia's Shura Consultative Council filed a recommendation on Tuesday that a ban on women driving in the ultra-conservative kingdom be lifted, one of them said.

The move comes ahead of a 26 October initiative by Saudi activists to defy a longstanding driving ban on women in Saudi Arabia.

Latifa al-Shaalan told AFP that she and two fellow council members, Haya al-Mani and Muna al-Mashit, filed a recommendation urging the kingdom's top consultative body to "recognise the rights of women to drive a car in accordance with the principles of Sharia (Islamic law) and traffic rules."

They backed their recommendation with results of studies on the various justifications for women to drive. "There is no law that bans women from driving. It is only a matter of tradition," Shaalan said.

Saudi women have "made many achievements... and have acquired leading positions in the government and the United Nations, yet they are still banned from driving. This creates a negative image (for the kingdom) abroad," she said.

In January, King Abdullah appointed 30 women members for the first time to the advisory body -- also known as the Saudi Consultative Council -- which advises the monarch on policy but cannot legislate.
A petition signed in March by 3,000 Saudis had urged the council to launch a debate on the driving ban in Saudi Arabia, the only country where women are not allowed behind the wheel of a vehicle.

More recently, an online petition entitled "Oct 26th, driving for women" has gathered several thousand signatures.

Activists say that some 20 women are planning to take part in the campaign in the kingdom's Eastern Province.

A similar campaign in June 2011 drew only a few women, some of whom were stopped by police and forced to sign a pledge not to take to the wheel again.

The 2011 call, which spread through Facebook and Twitter, had been the largest mass action since November 1990, when 47 Saudi women were arrested and severely punished after demonstrating in cars.
In addition to the driving ban, Saudi Arabia imposes other major restrictions on women, including a requirement to cover from head to toe when in public.

Abdullah has been carefully treading towards change, introducing municipal elections for the first time in 2005.

In 2011 he granted women the right to vote and run as candidates in the next local election, set for 2015, because, he said, "we refuse to marginalise women's roles in Saudi society."

Saudi women's right to drive

This op-ed appeared in the English language daily the Saudi Gazette. The article is by Dr. Ali al-Ghamdi. He is commenting on an interview printed by the Arabic paper, Okaz, with one of the new female members of the Saudi Shura Council, Dr. Thoraya Obaid, about Saudi women driving. You can link to his op-ed here, and the text is pasted in below.

Last updated: Wednesday, April 24, 2013 12:05 PM

Written by - Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi


A recent interview with Dr. Thoraya Obaid, a woman member of the Shoura Council, drew my attention. The interview, which appeared in Okaz newspaper, was about the right of Saudi woman to drive. The very title of the interview epitomized the content of her statement about women’s driving — “The dangers surrounding us are our prime concern than the issue of driving cars by women.”

I was surprised to read such a statement from the doctor at a time when we are looking forward to her and her fellow members in the Shoura Council with a hope that they would take up the issue of women’s driving as one of their priorities in the Kingdom’s consultative body. This is especially significant because Saudi women are the only women in the world who are deprived of this right despite the fact that Islamic Shariah does not forbid women from driving, as endorsed by a large number of Islamic scholars, including members of the Council of Senior Scholars. This topic has become a communal issue because of the fact that the society still remains a stumbling block in allowing a women to drive. But nobody explains to us as to why the community stands in the way of a woman from driving if she owns a car? There are certain situations where a woman is not in a position to hire a foreign driver either because of financial or social or religious reasons. Also, some scholars ruled that it is not permissible for a woman to travel along with a foreign driver in the absence of a mahram (close relative). In such cases, the ideal way for a woman is to drive by herself.

Coming back to the expression of Obaid about the dangers that were linked to allowing women to drive, I want to ask: What is the potential danger if we allow a woman to drive? Would the delay in granting a woman her right to drive or help to secure any other rights avert any danger or reduce its impact? Then what are the dangers about which the Shoura Council is discussing. We were following the Council’s deliberations through the electronic and print media but did not find any discussions that involve dangers to our country.

If we go down memory lane and review the issue of opening schools for girls, we can see that we had to meet with similar hurdles. In the beginning, it was said that girls’ education was a "taboo." Then, it was told that though Islamic Shariah permits it, the community won’t allow it. When King Faisal took a firm decision to open schools for girls, delegations from some regions came to meet him and asked him not to open schools for girls in their respective region. But he told them unequivocally that schools will be opened but there won’t be any compulsion on anybody to send his daughter to school.

However, after some time, there was not a single Saudi girl who stayed at home without going to school. When King Faisal took the decision to open schools for girls, there were “dangers surrounding us” as if fighter planes and bombs were striking parts of our country. But that did not deter King Faisal from giving girls their right to education.

Truly speaking, Obaid mentioned in her detailed interview that driving is a symbol for the right of women that enables a woman to reach her destination without any dangers. She also indicated that ours is the lone country in the world that does not allow women to drive. Our religion does not forbid women from driving but our customs do so as they control the situation. I wish to demand or at least poise to demand for taking a decision to allow women to drive following the example of King Faisal related to girls’ education.

I disagree with Obaid with regard to her linking of the women’s right to drive to the “surrounding dangers” because there should not be any question of bargaining while allowing one’s rights to him. All of us should avail of our rights, whether we used them or not. The demand to grant women their right to drive does not mean that all women would come out to streets with a car to ride.

As far as men are concerned, many of them are not used to drive for different reasons. Some of them are afraid of driving while some others have more than one driver to pick them up. As for some, they prefer public transport or limousine.

I won’t agree with those who oppose granting women their right to drive in the name of risks involved while driving, such as getting stuck on the road due to engine failure or such other problems. Some people ask what a woman would do in tackling such situations. It was a great surprise for me while listening to such arguments. I lived in a number of countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Yemen, and Turkey where I saw women driving, and some of them wearing veil or niqab while sitting behind the wheel. I never saw or heard about any woman faced any problem or subjected to dangers while driving. Hence why are we scared of something that would never happen? I do not rule out that there would be some problems in the beginning for those who practice driving but these will disappear with the passage of time. Stringent punitive measures could be taken against those who try to disturb women while driving.

I believe that even if women are allowed to drive, we cannot see a large number of women come out to sit behind the wheel in the beginning. This is because some of them are afraid of driving while some others need more time to learn driving. In the beginning, let the Saudi women, who learned driving and used to ride vehicles abroad, as well as expatriate women drive their cars. Granting women the right to drive would be helpful to a great extent to stop the campaign unleashed against us outside the Kingdom with regard to human rights, especially the rights of women.

Saudi urged to gradually allow women to drive cars

Story from Emirates 247 about a member of the Shura Council urging a gradual introduction of women driving in Saudi Arabia. A link to the story is here and the text is pasted in below.

Deputy proposes end to ban in some cities before final decision

By Nadim Kawach 

Published Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Issa al-Ghaith, member of the Shura Council

A tendency to end a long-standing ban on driving cars by women in Saudi Arabia continued to gain ground, with a parliament member proposing a gradual lifting of the ban in key cities before taking a final decision.

Issa Al Gaith, a member of Shura (appointed parliament) and a court judge, said the ban could have more disadvantages than advantages and that this should prompt authorities to consider allowing women to drive cars.

“Women could be allowed to drive gradually in one city or some cities in the Gulf Kingdom…afterwards, authorities can determine what benefits this decision will bring before they fully enforce it,” he said, quoted by Saudi newspapers.

“Preventing women from driving cars totally is not fair and fully allowing them to drive is also not fair…fairness means that we should devise legal and ethical regulations for female driving…we then give it a try and later enforce it fully.”

Gaith said those who are opposed to driving by women argue that ending the ban could bring disadvantages and unethical practices.

On the other hand, those who support women argue that lifting the ban could put an end to some bad practices including mingling between taxi and private male drivers and Saudi women, he added.

“Why should we remain silent about existing actual bad practices and insist on arguing about possible disadvantages that could result from allowing women to drive…how can we be sure that the disadvantages of allowing women to drive are more than those of banning them…a convincing answer to these questions is to allow women gradually to drive before reaching a final decision,” he said.

“Only then, we will be able to know whether we have committed serious mistakes over the past decades…let’s give it a try and see.”

Last year, Shura said it would start debating whether to allow women to drive cars but no decision has been reached yet.

Officials said any agreement by Shura on such a sensitive issue will have to be endorsed by king Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who has maintained silence towards a recent campaign by Saudi women to defy the ban and drive cars in public.

The campaign has resulted in the detention of several women caught driving.
Shura said last year it had received hundreds of letters from women asking it to discuss the issue, adding that it would conduct a comprehensive study on the matter before making any recommendation.

“Those who strongly object to women’s driving are mostly tribal people who stick to long-standing traditions and habits…as for supporters, they are divided into two camps—those who are not interested and those who strongly support it,” said Mashaal Mamdouh, head of the human rights panel in Shura.

Analysts believe the debate on female driving would gain momentum following a recent decision by King Abdullah to allow women to become Shura members for the first time in the Kingdom’s history.

Scores of defiant Saudi women have been arrested over the past two years after they were caught driving. The move was part of a campaign launched by thousands of women on Facebook a year ago to press for an end to the ban on female driving in the conservative Gulf kingdom, which controls over a fifth of the world’s proven oil wealth.

The drive was followed by a counter-campaign by over 1,000 Saudi women to press for keeping the driving ban, saying those who are pressing for lifting the ban are a “weird” minority. Newspapers have published a text of the statement, which said any move by the government to lift the ban would hurt the Islamic religion and destabilize the country.

Shura may discuss women driving issue

This article appeared in the Saudi English daily the Arab News. A link to the story is here, and the text is printed below.

RIYADH: Ghazanfar Ali Khan – March 18, 2013

Women Shura members at work

The Shura Council has accepted a petition that calls for holding fresh discussions on the issue of women driving in a historic move that may eventually facilitate the mobility of women. The petition, signed by 3,000 Saudi citizens including academics, scholars, writers, as well as young Saudi boys and girls, calls for the ban on women driving to be lifted.

"The human rights and petition panel of the Shura Council has studied the petition and has decided that the issue of women driving should be opened for debate on the floor of the house," said a press statement sent yesterday to Arab News by Abdulla Alami, one of the chief campaigners, backing the women's right to drive. "Merely opening the issue for debate will give credibility to the council," Alami added.

A member of the Shoura Council , however, said: "Women driving is just one of several issues, which can or can't be taken up for discussions." It depends on the decision and the recommendations of the specialized panel, he added. This topic is still "not listed for discussion as far as I know," said the Shura member on condition of anonymity. He, however, pointed out that he has been personally gathering information and feedback on this subject.

Referring to the call to end ban on women driving, Alami, who recently published a book titled "When would Saudi women drive?", said the petition submitted to the council calls for holding discussions and lifting the ban on women driving. "I call on the newly appointed women members of the council to join forces and to strongly discuss the subject," said Mohammed Al-Zulfa, a former Shura member, who was the first man to raise the issue in 2006.

"I support the move to allow our women to drive in the capacity of being a Saudi citizen," said Al-Zulfa, adding that the Saudi women drive their cars in different countries where they go for education, business or tourism. In neighboring countries like the UAE alone, about 36 percent of the Saudi female residents drive their cars.

In fact, the driving schools in Dubai have witnessed a dramatic increase in Saudi women candidates seeking training and licenses and about 55 trainees receive licenses every month. Also, the Bahraini General Directorate of Traffic has issued more than 6,000 driving licenses to Saudi women in the past two years.

"A large number of Saudi women also hold international driver's licenses," said a Riyadh-based travel and tourism agency that helps in obtaining international driver's licenses.

Spotlight on petition to lift driving ban on women

A story from Gulf News. Link to the story is here,  and the text is pasted in below. This is very exciting; the bylaws of Saudi Arabia's Shura Council require it to study petitions it receives.

Shura Council is reviewing call to debate the issue

• By Habib Toumi, Bureau Chief
• Published: 17:46 March 17, 2013

Manama: The Saudi Committee for Human Rights and Petition has pressed the Shura (Consultative) Council to launch a debate on the right of Saudi women to drive. The move by the committee is based on a study supported by 3,000 Saudi men and women from various parts of the country and calling for an open debate that should allow women to sit behind the steering wheel “in accordance with religious and social norms.”

Under the bylaws, the Shura Council has to respond to all questions, queries and petition.

“Debating the issue of allowing women to drive gives the Council greater credibility and promotes trust among the people who will view them as their representatives who are ready to engage in the debates they suggest,” Sulaiman Al Zayadi, the former head of the rights and petition committee that submitted the petition and requested a date to debate it, said in remarks published by Saudi news site Sabq on Saturday.

The petition was handed before the end of the last session to the committee that approved it and suggested its debate by the Shura Council members.

The new Shura Council, formed in January and which includes 30 women for the first time in its history has not yet looked into the petition.

The study argued that local social and economic developments in Saudi Arabia and the international covenants endorsed by the Saudi kingdom require that Riyadh allow women to drive cars.

An advisory and executive committee should be set up by Saudi Arabia to draw the religious, social and security regulations to allow women to drive as a prelude for social changes that will make the society more recipient to the idea of women driving, the study said.

The committee should be made up of moderate religious scholars and representatives from the foreign, interior, culture and information ministries, human rights watchdogs, the Shura Council human rights committee and other members to be appointed by the king, it said.

Shura Council Adds 30 Women Members

Saudi Arabia's Shura Council, a consultative body appointed by the king, added 30 women to its membership. This is a historic move, and in this blogger's opinion, takes a logical step toward dealing with introducing women's driving in the Kingdom. This story is being widely reported in the press today, but the account below (link is here) from the Saudi US Relations Information Service actually includes the king's announcement. His words include an affirmation that women will not be marginalized, (citing the important role of women in the early years of Islam), and also warn those who disagree with integrating women better into public life.

At the bottom is the list of names of those who have been appointed to the Council. The women's names are highlighted in yellow. FYI, the names are listed, not in order of rank. They are listed alphabetically by first name, according to the Arabic alphabet. Number 147, is listed as "Mr." though she is a woman. Typo, maybe, but it may also be that the translator was not sure whether to put Mrs. or Ms. or what? Maybe some commenter can explain that.

It is quite probable that there are some women on this list who are against women driving; however at least now there are women in the official political process who can deal with women's issues.

So far the western press hasn't really caught on to what a huge deal this is. They report the event then use it as an excuse to once again decry women's rights in the Kingdom. This is why I'm including this report - since it focuses on the actual facts and the king's announcement.

Blogger's editorial - may this turn out to be a 'tipping point' in getting the women's driving issue resolved!  Congratulations to the nominees and all women in Saudi Arabia
 ___________________________________________________________________

January 11, 2013

Shura Council Adds 30 Women Members

Special Report

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia delivered an address to the opening of the third year of the fifth term of the Saudi Consultative Council (Majlis Ash-Shura) in Riyadh on Sunday, September 25, 2011. In his address he expanded political reforms for women with the announcement that they will participate in the next round of elections — municipal council seats in 2015 — and could be appointed to the Consultative Council.  This is what he told the people of Saudi Arabia:

I am pleased to meet you at the opening of the third year of the fifth term of Majlis Al-Shura, praying to Allah Almighty to crown your works with success.

The struggle of the father of all people, the late King Abdul Aziz, with your grandfathers (Mercy be upon their souls), has resulted in the unity of hearts, land, and one destiny. Today, this destiny imposes on us to preserve this legacy, and not to stop here, but to develop it further in line with Islamic and moral values.
Yes, it is a responsibility towards our religion, and the interest of our country and its citizens that we should not stop at the hurdles of the current time; but we should strengthen our determination by patience and works with dependence on Allah to address them.

Balanced modernization in line with our Islamic values, which preserve rights, is an important requirement in an era with no room for the weak and undecided people.
All people know that Muslim women have had in the Islamic history, positions that cannot be marginalized, including correct opinions and advice since the era of Prophet Mohammed, as examples, we cite the advice of the Mother of Believers ‘Umm Salamah’ on ‘Al-Hudaybiyah’ Day, in addition to many examples during the era of the Prophet’s companions and followers until today.

‘Since we reject to marginalize the role of women in the Saudi society, in every field of works, according to the (Islamic) Sharia guidelines, and after consultations with many of our scholars, especially those in the senior scholars council, and others, who have expressed the preference for this orientation, and supported this trend, we have decided the following:

First, the participation of women in the Majlis Al-Shura as members from next session in accordance with the Shari’a guidelines.

Second, as of the next session, women will have the right to nominate themselves for membership of Municipal Councils, and also have the right to participate in the nomination of candidates with the Islamic guidelines.

You -my brothers and sisters- have rights that we strive to achieve all matters that are for your pride, your dignity and your interests. It is our right to seek your opinions and advices, according to Sharia guidelines, and the fundamentals of religion, and those who keep away from these guidelines, they are arrogant persons and they have to bear the responsibility of these actions.

I pray Allah Almighty for help and glory.

May peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

Today King Abdullah ordered the Saudi Arabian Majlis ash-Shura to add not less than 20% women to its ranks beginning with the convening of the next term of office. This SUSRIS special report provides the announcement published by the Saudi Press Agency earlier today which includes changes to the Majlis Ash-Shura Law and the names of the Speaker and the 150 members of the next term.

[Also see "Majlis Ash-Shura Law" in SUSRIS Documents]

Shura Council Adds 30 Women Members

Riyadh, Safar 29, 1434, Jan 11, 2013, SPA -- Two royal orders, amending the Shura Council system and forming a new chamber for four Hijra years, starting the expiration of the term of office of the current Shura Council, have been issued here today.

According to the Royal Order, the Shura Council will be consisting of its speaker and 150 members, all to be chosen by the King according to their knowledge, experience and profession, provided that women would be represented in the Council with no less than 20% of its members.

'After having reviewed the Governance Statute and the Shura Council's system and regulations and consulting with a big number of Ulema, members and non-members of the Senior Ulema Commission, who passed a proposal on the participation of women in the Shura Council in accordance with Sharia laws, a course we are not going to divert from a hairsbreadth as it is considered the pillar base of this nation laid by its founder late King Abdulaziz, and as per the interests of the public, we have ordered the amendment of the Third Article of the Shura Council system to read as follows:

'The Shura Council will be formed of a Speaker and 150 members, to be selected by the King according to their knowledge, experience and profession, provided that women would be represented in the Council with no less than 20% of its members. A royal order will designate the members' rights, duties and other things', the Royal Order said.

Article 22 of the Regulations of the Shura Council will read as follows:

Each of the sub-committees of the Shura Council will be formed by the Shura Council itself of a number of members no less than five. They will be chosen by the Shura Council, naming the committee's Chairman and deputy, and taking into consideration the needs of the committee and the profession of each committee member as well as the participation of women in the committees.

The Shura Council will have the right to form ad hoc committees to study specific issues. Each committee is allowed to form from among its members a sub-committe or more to study a specific issue.

Women, selected as members of the Shura Council, will enjoy full rights of memebrship, be committed to their duties, responsibilites and assume their jobs.

As per the introduction of this order, women, who are members of the Shura Council, will be asked to strictly follow the Islamic Sharia regulations, without any kind of violation, including the Shraia head and face covers (Hijab). In particular, the following points should be observed:

1- A special seating place will be allocated for women of the Shura Council, a special entrace and exit to and from the Council main hall will also be constructed and all relevant things in complete non-touch with men.

2- Special places will be allotted for women, guaranteeing complete isolation from those allotted for men, including special offices for them and for their workers and helpers, e.g. special appliances and services and prayer places.

This order should be carried with immediate effect', the Royal Order said.

According to the Royal Order, the new Shura Council, will be formed from Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, Speaker of the Shura Council. Following are the members, who will serve for four Hijra years, starting from the date of the expiration of the term of office of the current Shura Council which was formed upon the Royal Order No. A/15 dated 19/2/1430 H.:

1- Dr. / Mohammed bin Ameen bin Ahmed Al-Jeffery, Deputy Speaker of the Shura Council
2- Dr./ Fahhad bin Mu'tad bin Shafaq Al-Hamad, Assistant Speaker of the Shura Council
3- Mr./Ibrahim bin Abdulrahman bin Sulaiman Al-Bilaihi
4-/ Dr. Ibrahim bin abdullah in Mohammed Albrahim
5-/ Dr. Ibrhaim bin Mohammed bin Abdullah Abu Abat
6-/ Mr. Ahmed bin Ibrahim bin Meen Al-Hakami
7-/ Dr. Ahmed bin Saad bin Ahmed Al Mifreh
8-/ Dr. Ahmed bin Omer bin Mohammed Al Aqeel Al-Zaylaee
9- Dr./ Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Aboush Al-Ghamdi
10- Dr./ Ahmed bin Mahdi bin Mohammed Al-Shuwaikhat
11- Mr. / Osama bin Ali bin Majed Gabbani
12- Dr. / Elham bint Mahjoub bin Ahmed Hasanain
13- Dr./ Amal bint Salamah bin Sulaiman Al-Shaman
14- Eng. / Thamer bin Abdulmohsen bin Musaed Al-Ginawe
15- Dr./ Thamer bin Nasser bin Fahd bin Ghyshayan
16- Dr. / Thuraya bint Ahmed bin Obeid bin Mohammed Obeid
17- Dr. / Thuraya bint Ibrahim bin Hussein Al-Areedh
18- Mr. / Jubran bin Hamid bin Ali Dubraha Al-Gahtani
19- Dr. / Jebreel bin Hasan bin Mohammed Areeshi
20- Dr. / Al-Jawharah bint Ibrahim bin Mohammed Bu-Besht
21- Dr./ Hatem bin Hasan bin Hamza Abu-Hussein Al-Marzooqi
22- Dr./ Hamed bin Dhafi bin Mohammed Al-Warda Al-Sharari
23- Dr./ Hussam bin Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Al-Anqari
24- Dr./ Hamad bin Ayedh bin Mohammed bin Hamad Al Fahhad
25- Maj. Gen. Eng. Staff Pilot/ Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Husoon
26- Dr./ Hamdah bint Khalaf bin Miqbel Al-Enzy
27- Sheikh Dr. / Hamza bin Hussein bin Hamza Al-Fa'ar Al-Shareef
28- Dr./ Hanan bint Abdulraheem bin Mutlaq Al-Ahmadi
29- Dr./ Hayat bint Sulaiman bin Hasan Sindi
30- Dr./ Khalid bin Ibrahim bin Abdulrahman Al-Awwad
31- Dr./ Khalid bin Saad bin Abdulaziz bin Saeed
32- His Highness Dr./ Khalid bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Miqren Al-Mashari Al Saud
33- Dr./ Khalid bin Abdulmohsen bin Mohammed Al-Mehaisen
34- Dr./ Khalid bin Mohammed bin Ali Al-Saif
35- Dr./ Khalid bin Mansour bin Nasser Al-Aqeel
36- H.E. Dr./ Khader bin Olayan bin Ali Al-Qurashi
37- Mr./ Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Rashed Al-Dosary
38- Mr./ Dr. Khalil bin Abdulfattah bin Khalil Kurdi
39- Dr./ Khola bint Sami bin Saleem Al-Keraia
40- Dr. / Dalal bint Mekhled bin Jahez Al-Harbi
41- Dr. / Rashed bin Hamad bin Rashed Al-Katheeri
42- Dr./ Zuhair bin Fahd bin Jaber Al-Harthi
43- Dr./ Zainet bint Muthanna bin Abduou Abu-Taleb
44- Her Royal Highness Princess/ Sarrah bint Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
45- Dr./ Salem bin Ali bin Salem Al-Gahtani
46- Dr./ Sami bin Mohammed bin Hussein Zaidan
47- Dr./ Sattam bin Saud bin Abdullah Linjawe
48- Dr./ Saad bin Abdulrahamn bin Mohammed Al-Bazaaee
49- Dr./ Saad bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Mareq Assiri
50- Dr./ Saadoon bin Saad bin Saadoon Al-Saadoon
51- Dr./ Saud bin Humaid bin Remaizan Al-Sybaiee
52- Mr./ Saud bin Abdulrahamn bin Rashed Al-Shammari
53- Dr./ Saeed bin Abdullah bin Isa Alsheikh
54- Dr./ Sultan bin Hasan bin Sultan Al-Sultan
55- Dr./ Salwa bint Abdullah bin Fahad Al-Hazaa
56- H.E. Mr./ Sulaiman bin Saad bin Abdulrahman Al-Homaid
57 - Sheikh / Suleiman bin Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Majid
58 - Mr. / Saleh bin Hasan bin Abdullah Al-Afaleq
59 - Mr. / Saleh bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Hemaidi
60 - Mr. / Saleh bin Eid bin Hamdan Al-Hussaini
61 - Dr. / Sadagah bin Yahya bin Hamza Fadil
62 - Dr. / Tareq bin Ali bin Hasan Fada'ak
63 - Mr. / Azeb bin Saeed bin Ali Al Mosbel
64 - Dr. / Abdulrahman bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Heijan
65 - Mr. / Abdulrahman bin Rashid bin Abdulrahman Al-Rashid
66 - H.E. Dr. / Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al-Swailem
67 - H.E. Mr. / Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen bin Abdullah Al-Abdulkadir
68 - Dr. / Abdulrahman bin Nasser bin Saleem Al-Atwi
69 - Mr. / Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim bin Saad Al-Hadlaq
70 - Dr. / Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Hargan
71 - Maj. Gen. Dr./ Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al-Saab
72 - Dr. / Abdulaziz bin Adeeb bin Hasan Taher
73 - Brig. Gen. Dr. Eng. / Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Abdullah Al-Otaishan
74 - Dr. / Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman bin Mugbil Al-Shamekh
75 - Mr. / Abdulaziz bin Abdulkarim bin Abdulaziz Al-Issa
76 - Dr. / Abdulaziz bin Gablan bin Maqbool Al-Srani
77 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al-Askar
78 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Fifi
79 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Homoud bin Humaid Al-Lahibi Al-Harbi
80 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Zabin bin Eid Al-Otaibi
81 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Salim bin Jaber Al-Ma'atani
82 - Eng. / Abdullah bin Saleh bin Mohammed Al-Nujaidi
83 - Maj. Gen. Staff Pilot / Abdullah bin Abdulkarim bin Abdullah Al-Saadoun
84 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Ali bin Mohammed Al-Munif
85 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Muharib bin Sehan Al-Thofiri
86 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Jegiman
87 - Mr. / Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Nasser
88 - Dr. / Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saleh Nassif
89 - Ambassador Dr. / Abdulmohsen bin Fahd bin Mark Al-Mark
90 - Dr. / Adnan bin Ahmed bin Hasan Al-Bar
91 - Mr. / Assaf bin Salim bin Faisal Abu Thnain
92 - Dr. / Atallah bin Ahmed bin Muslim Abu Hassan
93 - Mr. / Atta bin Hamoud bin Atta Al-Subeiti
94 - Dr. / Ali bin Saad bin Ibrahim Al-Tokhais
95 - Dr. / Ali bin Abdulkarim bin Nasser Al Thuwaini
96 - Dr. / Ali bin Abdullah bin Saeed Mughram Al-Ghamdi
97 - Maj. Gen./ Ali bin Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Tamimi
98 - Mr. / Ali bin Nasser bin Dahash Al-Wazzrah
99 - Dr. / Amr bin Ibrahim bin Bakr Rajab
100 - Dr. / Awad bin Khzeim bin Ali Al Suroor Al-Asmari
101 - Sheikh / Isa bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Ghaith
102 - Dr. / Ghazi bin Faisal bin Saeed Mohammed bin Zagr
103 - Dr. / Fatima bint Mohammed bin Mohsen Al Saeed Al-Qarni
104 - Dr. / Faleh bin Mohammed bin Faleh Al-Saghayer
105 - Dr. / Fayez bin Abdullah bin Ali Al-Shihri
106 - Dr. / Fadwa bint Salamah bin Odeh Abu Marifah
107 - Dr. / Fardous bint Saud bin Mohammed Al-Saleh
108 - Dr. / Fahd bin Hamoud bin Saleh Al-Faqiri Al-Enezi
109 - Dr. / Lubna bint Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Tayeb Al-Ansari
110 - Dr. / Latifa bint Othman bin Ibrahim Al-Shaalan
111 - Dr. / Majed bin Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Muneef
112 - Dr. / Mohsen bin Ali bin Fares bin Hussein Al-Hazmi
113 - Mr. / Mohammed bin Hamid bin Ahmed Al-Nagadi
114 - Mr. / Mohammed bin Dakhil bin Abedrabbo Al-Suhaimi Al-Mutairi
115 - Sheikh / Mohammed bin Saad bin Abdullah Al-Sa'adan
116 - Dr. / Mohammed bin Saeed bin Ahmed Al Ahmed Al-Qahtani
117 - Sheikh / Mohammed bin Saleh bin Ali Al-Dehaim
118 - Dr. / Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al Naji Al-Qahtani
119 - Brig. Gen.Staff / Mohammed bin Faisal bin Jaber Abu Sag
120 - Mr. / Mohammed bin Murshid bin Rashid Al-Rehaily
121 - Dr. / Mohammed bin Mehdi bin Abdulmohsen Al-Khunaizi
122 - Mr. / Mohammad Reza bin Mansour bin Hasan Nasrallah
123 - Dr. / Mahmoud bin Mohammed bin Mustafa Al-Bedaiwi
124 - Dr. / Mastourah bint Obaid bin Lafi Al-Husseini Al-Shammari
125 - Dr. / Mishaal bin Fehem bin Mohammed Al-Sulami
126 - Dr. / Mustafa bin Mohammed Al-Hassan bin Mohammed Al-Idrisi
127 - Eng. / Mufreh bin Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Saher Al-Zahrani
128 - Dr. / Mufleh bin Dgyeman bin Sebeel Al-Rashidi
129 - Mr. / Mansour bin Saad bin Fahd Al-Kredes
130 - Dr. / Muna bint Abdullah bin Saeed Al Mushayt
131 - Dr. / Muna bint Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Dosari
132 - Dr. / Moafig bin Fawaz bin Hallaf Al-Ruwaili
133 - Her Royal Highness Princess / Moudi bint Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
134 - Dr. / Moudi bint Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Dugaither
135 - Dr. / Nasser bin Rajeh bin Mohammed Al-Tobi Al-Shahrani
136 - Sheikh Dr./ Nasser bin Zaid bin Nasser bin Dawood
137 - Dr. / Nasser bin Ali bin Abdullah Al-Mousa
138 - Maj. Gen. Eng./ Nasser bin Ghazi bin Nasser Al-Shaibani Al-Otaibi
139 - Mr. / Nayef bin Marzouq bin Manea Al-Fahhadi
140 - Dr. / Nihad bint Mohammed Saeed bin Ahmed Al-Jeshi
141 - Dr. / Nawaf bin Bedah bin Abdullah Al-Faghm
142 - Dr. / Nora bint Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Mubarak
143 - Dr. / Nora bint Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Asqah
144 - Dr. / Nora bint Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Adwan
145 - Mr. / Hashim bin Ali bin Hamzah Al-Rajeh
146 - Dr. / Hani bin Yusuf bin Ibrahim Khashogji
147 - Mr. / Huda bint Abdulrahman bin Saleh Al-Halisi
148 - Dr. / Hia bint Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al-Manea
149 - Dr. / Wafa bint Mahmoud bin Abdullah Taibah
150 - Dr. / Yahya bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Samaan.

The Order issued by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdualziz Al Saud instructed the Speaker of Shura Council to implement this order with immediate effect.

--SPA

Three women arrested for driving in Saudi

My apologies for not posting much in the last few weeks. The whole world has been watching Saudi women and their triumphant appearance at the Olympics, and most news stories about them mention that they can't drive back home. But other than that the news about the Saudi women's driving campaign has been relatively quiet. I am hoping that is a sign of some very good things to come. Last September on Saudi Arabia's National Day, King Abdallah announced that women would have the right to vote in municipal elections and said he would appoint them to the Shura Advisory Council. Some had hoped he would lift the ban on women driving. It didn't happen then, but I have a hunch that it's possible this year, especially with the first-time appearance of women at the Olympics. Change is in the air.

That said, below is one of the few news items on the topic, from Emirates 24/7.

A link to the story is here, and the text is below.

Published Sunday, August 05, 2012

Saudi police arrested three Arab women for driving a car after a chase that resulted in a collision with the police patrol vehicle.

A police patrol spotted the two Tunisian and an Egyptian woman in a car driven by one of them in the eastern town of Dammam late night.

“The patrol chased them and tried to stop their car…but as they tried to escape, their car collided with the police vehicle...they were all arrested,” the Arabic language daily Sabq said.

Women are banned from driving in the conservative Moslem kingdom but there have been campaign by Saudi women over the past year to end the ban.

Shoura council reconsidering women driving issue

The Saudi Gazette reports that the Saudi consultative council, known as the Shoura, appointed by the King, is reconsidering the women driving issue. A link to the story is here and the text is below. This subject has come to the fore, in response to the growing movement of Saudi men and women who are asking for women's right to drive, as well as the questions that have followed the King's recent announcement about women's right to vote and women's imminent appointment as full members of the Shoura.

Shoura reconsidering women driving issue

Al-Khobar — In view of the popular campaign for allowing women to drive in the Kingdom, the Shoura Council is thoroughly reconsidering the issue, said Dr. Misha’l Mamdooh Al-Ali, Chairman of the Council’s Human Rights Committee.

Allowing women to drive does not conflict with Islamic law, he said, adding that the majority of people oppose women driving based on tradition and customs. “It has nothing to do with religion,” Al-Ali was quoted by Al-Hayat Arabic daily as saying.

Many Saudi women say their driving does not contradict the Shariah and there is no religious reason that prevents them from driving, he added. He said these women have appointed a lawyer to follow up the issue at the Shoura Council.

“The human rights committee is waiting for the Chairman of the Shoura Council to study the case and refer it back to the committee,” he said.

“The Shoura Council will study any issue put on the table as long as it is in the interest of citizens and residents,” he said. The Shoura Council will allow the lawyer and his female clients to attend the session when the issue is discussed, he said.

Dr. Al-Ali hoped that Sheikh Abdul Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, and other senior Ulema (scholars) would give their opinion on the issue. “We will comply with what they say because they know better and know what is best for us.”

The Shoura Council members are studying the issue thoroughly from different social, economic and security aspects, he said.

One important goal that his committee seeks to achieve is to ensure that there are female police so that female drivers are treated with respect, he explained.