'Saudi women, start your engines:'

Semi naked activists from the Ukrainian female rights group Femen protest in front of the Saudi Arabian embassy against a ban on driving cars for women in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, June 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) (Sergei Chuzavkov, AP / June 16, 2011)

BRIAN MURPHY
Associated Press
11:56 a.m. CDT, June 17, 2011

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Several Saudi women boldly got behind the wheel Friday, including one who managed a 45-minute trip through the nation's capital, seeking to ignite a road rebellion against the male-only driving rules in the ultraconservative kingdom.

Activists — inspired in part by the uprisings around the Arab world — have not appealed for mass protests in any specific sites. But they urged Saudi women to begin a mutiny against the driving restrictions that are supported by clerics backing austere interpretations of Islam and enforced by powerful morality squads.


Encouragement poured in via the Internet. "Take the wheel. Foot on the gas," said one Twitter message on the main site women2Drive. Another urged: "Saudi women, start your engines!"

more

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-saudi-women-drivers,0,3049664.story

people there (women included) need to take some initiative and overthrow their decrepit monarchy, or they have no one to blame but themselves.

They Saudi's have the best mercenaries money can buy, and the USA will not let the monarchy fall, just as they are propping up the government in Yemen. Look at Bahrain for an example of what would happen if the people rose up against the King.

it doesn't sound like the average saudi is cowed/intimidated by the saudi government or the USA, but basically happy with the status quo. except the ladies want to drive.

the men are insecure, and probably most of them fear that the women will now be able to cheat on them. Having a trusted male escort (from her family) at all times, means that she never has a chance to engage in conversations they do not overhear, or look at anyone they do not also see, or ever come into contact with anyone.
A woman who can drive herself, has declared independence and can do what she likes, go where she wants to go, and if she's willing to bear the consequences (if found out), even carry on an affair..

Age and a valid driver's license usually determine whether an individual can operate a vehicle, but in Saudi Arabia, women are prohibited from driving. Poll results show that 66% of Saudi women and 55% of Saudi men agree that women should be allowed to drive a car by themselves. In light of the ban on female driving, such relatively high levels of public support are remarkable.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/103441/saudi-arabia-majorities-support-womens-rights.aspx

(so sayeth Gallup)..why have the rules not been changed?

:shrug:

I guess Arab spring has come to Saudi Arabia after all.

It seems that in areas like that, woman rebelling isn't tolerated very well. I see the woman have makeup and nail polish on, I thought that wasn't tolerated either.

But still I hope those woman make a difference, no one should be treated as a subservient.

Or will the United States suddenly discover a reason to turtle when it's a dictatorship we like that's practicing oppression? Will President Obama send in the drones to protect the women of Saudi Arabia? Will a reason even be proffered for our inaction, should we choose not to intervene?

there's nothing about the saudi system that's incompatible with granting women driving privileges.

love it! K&R !!

rosa parks believed in public transportation.

Rosa Parks was for equal access to transport, just like these women.

that some men were dressing as women so as to confuse the security people. I'm betting those men have daughters.

The Saudi Government will now allow women to
drive cars and in return, women will not be
allowed to tell their husbands to pull over
and ask for directions.