For many women around the world, the simple pleasure of being able to jump into their car and drive to where they need or want to be is taken for granted, no one really questions their right to do so – even if many joke that women aren’t the best drivers. But in Saudi Arabia women are fighting with all their hearts for the right to be able to do so.
Saudi Arabian women, according to a news report on BBC´s website, are not formally banned from driving, but are at risk of being arrested if they do.
The government argues that there will be “no more virgins” and that “women may be harassed by males chasing them” among many other, often bizarre, reasons. There are fears that women will have the freedom to date and that there will be an increase in prostitution, homosexuality, and divorce.
Although there have been rumours that King Abdullah may consider lifting the ban, many religious people and movements are fighting back to keep women from being able to have the freedom and right to drive.
In the western world, where women’s rights just about equal men’s and where governments wouldn’t think of taking away a women’s right to drive, it seems outrageous that this kind of treatment is allowed in Saudi Arabia.
There are some concerns in Saudi Arabia that with many male Arab youths not being used to women having rights and not having male chaperones, they may see hitting or chasing a car with females as a way of flirting.
Many people in Saudi Arabia believe that it is something that does need to be changed, although perhaps at a slow pace as people need to be accustomed to women being given more freedom.
Saudi Arabian women are not giving up though, even after a few arrests in recent months of women who took to their wheel either out of necessity or defiance. This has only spurred them on to reach their goal of having the right to drive.