RIYADH, March 9 (Reuters) - A senior Saudi prince questioned the need for a ban on women driving on Wednesday and said lifting it would be a quick first step to reduce the Islamic kingdom's dependence on millions of foreign workers.
The Gulf Arab state is a monarchy ruled by the al-Saud family in alliance with clerics from the strict Wahhabi school of Islam. Women must be covered from head to toe in public and are not allowed to drive.
But the ruling family has been facing calls from activists and liberals, empowered by protests across North Africa and the Middle East, to allow some political reforms in the absolute monarchy that has no parliament.
Using social media, activists have called on King Abdullah to allow women to participate for the first time in municipal elections expected later this year.
Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah and advocate of his reforms, said the kingdom could send some 750,000 foreign drivers home if women could drive.
"A lot of Saudi women want to drive their car in line with strict regulations and wearing a headscarf. But now they need a driver ... This is an additional burden on households," he said.
"The Saudi society wants fewer foreign labourers ... so why the hesitation, why this hesitation (with women driving cars)? I want answers," he said.
A ban could only be lifted by the government in consultation with the country's top Islamic scholars.
Saudi women are subject to a male "guardianship" system which requires they show permission from their guardian -- father, brother or husband -- to travel or, sometimes, work.
Religious police patrol the streets regularly to ensure gender segregation and that women are dressed modestly.
The rulers of the world's top oil exporter have wrestled with the issue of moderating the country's strict adherence to an austere version of Sunni Islam.
King Abdullah, a reformist, has replaced hardline clerics with moderate ones but must balance their needs with those of the religious elite who helped found the kingdom in 1932.
He unveiled handouts worth $37 billion last month in a bid to insulate the kingdom from Arab protests reaching the kingdom's borders in Bahrain, Yemen and Jordan, but has given no hint whether the ruling family will allow political reforms.
Saudi Arabia's huge oil wealth has provided a high standard of living compared to many neighbours, and it was widely thought to be immune from spreading unrest, but the rumblings of discontent from the Shi'ite minority have alarmed Riyadh.
More than 17,000 people have backed a call on Facebook to hold two demonstrations this month, the first on March 11 but activists say it is impossible to say how many will defy a ban on protests.
Protests by a disgruntled Shi'ite minority in Bahrain are being closely watched in Saudi Arabia, where Shi'ites make up about 15 percent of the population.
6 comments:
Allowing women to drive would do more than just prevent rebellions, it would also benefit Saudi Arabia. If women could drive, they would be able to drive themselves to work, if they are given permission. This could potentially raise the already high standard of living.
It is interesting to me to see the uses of social media in these countries. To me and most other Americans, they serve mainly as means to stay connected not to share our opinions or to organize massive protests. Also, more obviously this article points out the changes in these countries. Women seem to be gaining rights and becoming more prominent. Combine this possible boon to their economy with their resistance to rebellion and the Saudi Arabian economy could be poised to grow rather quickly and largely. Hopefully, this will be positive news for Americans and gas prices. Only time will tell.
I think this is good they are trying to make a change for women in suadi because their rules (in my opinion) are strict enough as it is. To help a economy people need to be in places in a so, so amount of time and then off to continue somewhere else etc... I'm in the same boat like the people asking "why is this rule being made up in the first place?!" honestly why? What is so wrong about women driving!? It just puts hassels on thier husbands or other drivers. But I know America is not going to intervine because we have them for simply oil relations and we don't want to screw that up as it is. Heck gas prices are already bad as it is and we don't need it any higher. Still I'm glad thier people are questioning it's part of out nature to do that along in everybodys natural right.
I think this is good they are trying to make a change for women in suadi because their rules (in my opinion) are strict enough as it is. To help a economy people need to be in places in a so, so amount of time and then off to continue somewhere else etc... I'm in the same boat like the people asking "why is this rule being made up in the first place?!" honestly why? What is so wrong about women driving!? It just puts hassels on thier husbands or other drivers. But I know America is not going to intervine because we have them for simply oil relations and we don't want to screw that up as it is. Heck gas prices are already bad as it is and we don't need it any higher. Still I'm glad thier people are questioning it's part of out nature to do that along in everybodys natural right.
I honestly don't see why women driving is a bad thing. I know it's there religion but still, aren't they going a little over board? I think that the only reason they should have that is because the women are covered head-to-toe to be modest. Man they would get a kick out of the way some girls dress at Lubbock high. I glad that some activist groups are speaking out and that Prince Alwalled bin Talal is an advocate of his reforms. I kind of hope the ban is lifted so that they are at least on a little more equal ground with the men even though it will never be like it is in the United States.
Saudi Arabia is pretty smart. Has anyone seen the women driving in the LHS parking lot? Keeping women off the streets will give parking lines a purpose, and it will probably decrease car accidents by a billion percent. Why does Alwaleed bin Talat want to get rid of foreigners anyway. The three dots in the title makes it seem like women driving is ridiculous. I agree. ha
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