Written by Diana Robinson-Bardyn   

The women of Saudi Arabia, too long imprisoned in a country that does not allow women to drive, are again standing up for a basic right that we all take for granted. A bold display of Saudi feminism was launched by Manal al-Sharif, a Saudi woman who was arrested and held for ten days after posting a YouTube video of herself driving. Manal is now being called the "Saudi Rosa Parks." But Manal al-Sharif is not the first woman to use illegal driving to call attention to this unfair treatment of women in Saudi society, and the economic burden it places on them - an estimated $10,347 yearly for transportation costs compared to $2,350 for males.

Indeed the debate on women driving in the Kingdom is hardly new. In 2008 a YouTube video shows another activist, Ms. Huwaider, driving, and in an interview with Barbara Walters in 2005, King Abdullah noted that "Saudi women have to be patient".

According to the Saudi woman blogger, Eman Fahed, "Many members of the Royal family also support lifting the ban. His (King Abdullah's) daughter Princess Adelah stated to the press that she hopes that the ban will be lifted. Princess Loloah, daughter of the great King Faisal told France 24 that she would like to see the ban lifted."

There are also those who disagree and even make the case for a conspiracy theory, as noted on the Saudiwoman.com blog. "Sheikh Nasser Al Omer gave a sermon on the matter of women driving. At the beginning of the video he claims that he read in an American newspaper about an American expert who says that the USA is drawing up plans to occupy Saudi oil fields, and that the Iranian TV channels are also making threats. So that raising the issue of women driving is not about rights or whether or not it’s prohibited by Islam; it is a conspiracy against the country, started by Shia who are supported by liberals, secularists, Jews and the West. His argument is that the women driving issue always gets heated when the country is under threat, referring back to the 1990 women driving protest during the Gulf war and now."

Not being able to drive is just one aspect of broad gender discrimination in Saudi society that includes "women-only stores, women-only lines in fast food restaurants, and women-only offices in private companies. Fathers can marry off their 10-year old daughters. Women cannot appear in court and regardless of their age, must have a male relative who acts as their guardian and has authority over them for both legal and personal matters."

Following the appointment of a woman, Nora al-Faiz to deputy minister of Girls' Education, the BBC reported, "Education from first grade up to postgraduate level is completely gender-segregated by law. Women teach and run the schools but when it comes to decisions regarding the curricula, the uniforms and even the teachers' dress-code, a memo is sent from the men-only administration and principals have to carry them out unquestioningly."

Al Jazeera reports, "Saudi Arabia, an ally of the US, is an absolute monarchy that does not tolerate any form of dissent. Religious police patrol the streets of the kingdom to ensure public segregation between men and women. Besides being banned from driving, women must have written approval from a designated male guardian, a father, husband, brother or son to work, travel abroad and even undergo certain forms of surgery. The conservative Islamic state has no written ban on women driving, but Saudi law requires citizens to use a locally issued licence while in the country. And such licences are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive."

Women around the world are taking note of this issue, but the women of America have a special responsibility as citizens of a nation that claims Saudi Arabia as a long standing ally in the Middle East. Our solidarity should include a statement from our own Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a woman with a special interest in women's rights. A petition asking Hillary Clinton to issue a statement of support has been launched on change.org. Please take a moment to add your name.
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE PETITION FROM 'SAUDI WOMEN FOR DRIVING' TO HILLARY CLINTON
http://www.change.org/petitions/secretary-clinton-publicly-support-saudi-womens-right-to-drive

From the letter:
"Saudi Arabia, one of the strongest and longest standing US allies in the Middle East, is also the only country on earth where women are not allowed to drive, or even ride a bicycle, often dubbed 'the world's largest women's prison'. As Saudi women our lack of freedom of movement places an extreme burden on our lives. We lack a public transportation system and the most basic errands and medical appointments are missed due to the difficulty and expenses of arranging transportation, notwithstanding educational and work opportunities. Many from our religious establishment openly state that the reason they prohibit women from driving is to keep women at home and in need of men. Our lack of this basic right to drive our own cars has been repeatedly exploited by abusive fathers, brothers, husbands and even hired drivers."

The next red flag day in this new movement will be on June 17th, when all the women of Saudi Arabia who hold foreign driving licenses are being asked to drive.

Claiming your rights is not an easy task when you have been born and raised in a society intent on keeping you in lock down. Reform of women's basic civil rights in Saudi Arabia may be advancing by baby steps but one thing is certain. When Saudi women hold car keys, their drive for rights will accelerate.


ADDITIONAL READING:

http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/second-update-on-manal-al-sherif/
Second Update on Manal Al Sherif, Saudiwoman.com

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/7901659.stm
Saudi blogs: Government reforms, BBC News

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/middleeast/01iht-saudi.html?pagewanted=all
Talk of Women’s Rights Divides Saudi Arabia, New York Times

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sa.html
CIA World Factbook