One of the lightning rods of dissent in the Kingdom is the government's refusal to permit women to drive. We know of no other nation with this ban; and to compound the confusion, there is apparently no explicit law banning it, just a reference to a decree in 1991. Like the other irritating restriction of the niqab veil, it also has no basis in the Koran, and therefore is not easily upheld in Sharia law.
Recently the first name "Manal" has become a symbolic name, as the divorced Aramco IT expert -- she received awards for her expertise a few years ago -- drove a car near Coleman's high school last month and published the feat on YouTube. The deliberately banal video inflamed the sensibilities of the Saudi police, who detained Manal in the women's reformatory for 10 days. Her lawyer carefully pointed out that there was no law against her driving, and further she carefully avoided any reference to the Facebook group urging women to all drive on June 17th. Still, she was held ten days, until her father flew over from the west coast to plead her case, and until she issued statements that I am not an activist fighting for women’s right to drive, but a simple person leading a dignified life and looking after my kids. I’m not interested in causing controversy...My withdrawal from activism was based on my own free will. She and her father also made sure to declaim the standard formulaic paean to the grace of mercy of the almighty sovereign.
Instead, Manal is now championing the cause of the many foreign women in the reformatory who are effectively in debtors' prison, kept only because they owe money to their visa sponsors, or they cannot pay for a plane ticket home.
Driving privileges, though, are particularly hardfelt because they are uniquely universal -- unlike their Saudi counterparts, foreign women do not need to wear a veil, or even a head covering. Expatriate women have property rights and voting rights in their home country, and social and employment rights as well. Wealth and status bring protection from various indignities like heat and labor. But wealth and status cannot obtain a driving license.
In India, Barbara did not want to drive -- the parlous state of the roadways, and the anarchic atmosphere that prevailed, were great discouragements. And most people walked or took public transport anyway. But here in Saudi Arabia the roads are well designed, and cars are essential in this heat and distance. So the prohibition severely grates on everyone's nerves.
There is constant whisper of reform. The English-language newspapers daily include a sympathetic article about a woman who drove her husband to the hospital, or drove to escape an evil husband; or about the government minister who hints that soon there will be discussions about the issue, "if it is recommended" (note the passive voice, avoiding responsibility or agency).
Unfortunately, the issue is getting linked to the overall one of political reform, which the royalists are tautly attuned to battle.
The old-timers say it is likely to happen slowly, with subtle direction to stop prosecuting women who drive -- analogous to the earlier prohibition against satellite TV dishes. The spate of sympathetic articles in the press indicates that officials are testing the waters. But any hint of association between women-drivers and Bahraini-style protest will be the kiss of death to such sympathy.
One radical misogynist detected conspiratorial motives in Manal's choice of driving day, as it coincided with some obscure Shi'ite holiday.
When will it end? What do you think?
Recently the first name "Manal" has become a symbolic name, as the divorced Aramco IT expert -- she received awards for her expertise a few years ago -- drove a car near Coleman's high school last month and published the feat on YouTube. The deliberately banal video inflamed the sensibilities of the Saudi police, who detained Manal in the women's reformatory for 10 days. Her lawyer carefully pointed out that there was no law against her driving, and further she carefully avoided any reference to the Facebook group urging women to all drive on June 17th. Still, she was held ten days, until her father flew over from the west coast to plead her case, and until she issued statements that I am not an activist fighting for women’s right to drive, but a simple person leading a dignified life and looking after my kids. I’m not interested in causing controversy...My withdrawal from activism was based on my own free will. She and her father also made sure to declaim the standard formulaic paean to the grace of mercy of the almighty sovereign.
Instead, Manal is now championing the cause of the many foreign women in the reformatory who are effectively in debtors' prison, kept only because they owe money to their visa sponsors, or they cannot pay for a plane ticket home.
Driving privileges, though, are particularly hardfelt because they are uniquely universal -- unlike their Saudi counterparts, foreign women do not need to wear a veil, or even a head covering. Expatriate women have property rights and voting rights in their home country, and social and employment rights as well. Wealth and status bring protection from various indignities like heat and labor. But wealth and status cannot obtain a driving license.
In India, Barbara did not want to drive -- the parlous state of the roadways, and the anarchic atmosphere that prevailed, were great discouragements. And most people walked or took public transport anyway. But here in Saudi Arabia the roads are well designed, and cars are essential in this heat and distance. So the prohibition severely grates on everyone's nerves.
There is constant whisper of reform. The English-language newspapers daily include a sympathetic article about a woman who drove her husband to the hospital, or drove to escape an evil husband; or about the government minister who hints that soon there will be discussions about the issue, "if it is recommended" (note the passive voice, avoiding responsibility or agency).
Unfortunately, the issue is getting linked to the overall one of political reform, which the royalists are tautly attuned to battle.
The old-timers say it is likely to happen slowly, with subtle direction to stop prosecuting women who drive -- analogous to the earlier prohibition against satellite TV dishes. The spate of sympathetic articles in the press indicates that officials are testing the waters. But any hint of association between women-drivers and Bahraini-style protest will be the kiss of death to such sympathy.
One radical misogynist detected conspiratorial motives in Manal's choice of driving day, as it coincided with some obscure Shi'ite holiday.
When will it end? What do you think?
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