Thursday, October 10, 2013

Women in Saudi Arabia: To Veil and Not To Wheel

By Aiman Reyaz, New Age Islam
October 10, 2013
 








Seeing a veiled woman at the wheel of a racing car might seem unlikely in a Muslim country. But just next door to Saudi Arabia - where women are banned from driving - a group of women has set up a club devoted to all things auto. Photo published in France 24
‘Women held after asking Saudi policemen for directions’1, ‘Saudi man fined for letting sister drive’ 2, and the most outrageous of all ‘women drivers would cause crashes’3. These are the popular links that ‘saudiwomendriving.blogspot’ use to spread their just demand that women should also be allowed to drive in the “mighty kingdom”.
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that does not allow women to ‘man the machine’ (i.e., women are not allowed to drive), although the women at the time of the Prophet were very active on the fields, they would heal the wounded; they would also ride camels to spread information etc. It was the only country to score a zero in the category of political empowerment, even though Islam gave women political rights over 1400 years ago.
 

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