Saudi prince and billionaire backs letting women drive

[Divair]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/ ... DB20130415

(Reuters) - Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince AlWaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah, has thrown his support behind allowing Saudi women to drive, saying it makes economic sense.

Women are barred from driving in the Arab kingdom - leaving them reliant on mostly foreign drivers.

"(The question of) women driving will result in dispensing with at least 500,000 foreign drivers, and that has an economic and social impact for the country," the prince said on his Twitter account on Sunday.

He did not spell out the economic benefits, but Saudi officials have said they are worried about the amount of money being sent out of the country by foreign workers.

Many Saudi families would also have more disposable income if they no longer had to pay for drivers.

Saudi Arabia, home to about nine million foreign workers, began a crackdown on illegal immigrants this year to boost the proportion of Saudi citizens in private sector jobs from the current 10 percent.

In the same Twitter message, the prince said he supported that campaign.

Saudi Arabia is a conservative monarchy, backed by religious scholars. It follows an austere Salafist form of Sunni Islam and allows clerics wide powers in society where they dominate the judicial system and run their own police squad to enforce religious morals.

After pro-democracy protests swept through the region in 2011, dozens of Saudi women responded to the "Women 2 Drive" campaign, posting pictures and videos of their driving on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Some of the women were detained briefly and two faced charges, including that of "challenging the monarch".

One of them was let go after signing a pledge not to drive again, while the other was sentenced to 10 lashes. Reuters could not confirm if the lashing sentence was inflicted, but a Saudi princess tweeted that it had been revoked.

While there is no written legislation banning women from driving, Saudi law requires citizens to use locally issued licenses while in the country. Such licenses are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive.

At least Saudi Arabia is making some progress.

[Vitaphone Racing]

Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince AlWaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah, has thrown his support behind allowing Saudi women to drive, saying it makes economic sense.

Provided they benefit from said progress by the looks.

[Sibirsky]

At least Saudi Arabia is making some progress.

Haha yeah. This isn't nearly enough, but it certainly is a step in the right direction. Or would be if it happens. It probably will.

[Sibirsky]

Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince AlWaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah, has thrown his support behind allowing Saudi women to drive, saying it makes economic sense.

Provided they benefit from said progress by the looks.

Better than nothing.

Still, a bad reason to do it. I understand that.

[Divair]

Provided they benefit from said progress by the looks.

Better than nothing.

Still, a bad reason to do it. I understand that.

To be fair, it's a good cover if he actually cares about equal rights.

[Vietnam]

Because of economic benefit rather than equal rights? >:v

oijrgojerogjg

[Vietnam]

Better than nothing.

Still, a bad reason to do it. I understand that.

To be fair, it's a good cover if he actually cares about equal rights.

Agreed.

[Sibirsky]

Better than nothing.

Still, a bad reason to do it. I understand that.

To be fair, it's a good cover if he actually cares about equal rights.

You think that might be the case?

Hey whatever works. The place is conservative.

[New Naephak]

When I saw the title the first thing I thought of were Nigerian princes.

Anyways, good for Saudi Arabia, if it happens.

[Darmalstan]

Wow and here I thought America was the most patriarchal, woman-hating country in the world. Maybe those feminists should direct their energy towards countries like this where women actually are oppressed and treated unfairly under the law.

[Genivaria]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/15/us-saudi-driving-idUSBRE93E0DB20130415

(Reuters) - Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince AlWaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah, has thrown his support behind allowing Saudi women to drive, saying it makes economic sense.

Women are barred from driving in the Arab kingdom - leaving them reliant on mostly foreign drivers.

"(The question of) women driving will result in dispensing with at least 500,000 foreign drivers, and that has an economic and social impact for the country," the prince said on his Twitter account on Sunday.

He did not spell out the economic benefits, but Saudi officials have said they are worried about the amount of money being sent out of the country by foreign workers.

Many Saudi families would also have more disposable income if they no longer had to pay for drivers.

Saudi Arabia, home to about nine million foreign workers, began a crackdown on illegal immigrants this year to boost the proportion of Saudi citizens in private sector jobs from the current 10 percent.

In the same Twitter message, the prince said he supported that campaign.

Saudi Arabia is a conservative monarchy, backed by religious scholars. It follows an austere Salafist form of Sunni Islam and allows clerics wide powers in society where they dominate the judicial system and run their own police squad to enforce religious morals.

After pro-democracy protests swept through the region in 2011, dozens of Saudi women responded to the "Women 2 Drive" campaign, posting pictures and videos of their driving on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Some of the women were detained briefly and two faced charges, including that of "challenging the monarch".

One of them was let go after signing a pledge not to drive again, while the other was sentenced to 10 lashes. Reuters could not confirm if the lashing sentence was inflicted, but a Saudi princess tweeted that it had been revoked.

While there is no written legislation banning women from driving, Saudi law requires citizens to use locally issued licenses while in the country. Such licenses are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive.

At least Saudi Arabia is making some progress.

So what do you think? 18th century? 19th?

[Regnum Dominae]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/15/us-saudi-driving-idUSBRE93E0DB20130415




At least Saudi Arabia is making some progress.

So what do you think? 18th century? 19th?

Early 17th.

[Great Nepal]

Glad to see Saudi is catching up with civilized world... they are just three or four hundred years behind now.

[Riparian March]

The opinion of one Prince/billionaire is not that important in Saudi Arabia, because they have so many of them. Anyway the Sultan has to balance any desires he has to institute change with the forces opposed to that change. I am not sure what the current reasoning behind having woman not drive. I am sure it is not because they are bad drivers. Anyway, it seems odd that they would rather have their women ride in a car with a foreigner than by herself. I forget which country it is, but there is one with taxis just for women driven by women.

[Duvniask]

Well good I guess?

Wow and here I thought America was the most patriarchal, woman-hating country in the world. Maybe those feminists should direct their energy towards countries like this where women actually are oppressed and treated unfairly under the law.

I don't know what would give you that impression?

[Lunaris]

Wow and here I thought America was the most patriarchal, woman-hating country in the world. Maybe those feminists should direct their energy towards countries like this where women actually are oppressed and treated unfairly under the law.

Only, it won't do much of anything. You have to remember who we are talking about here.

Who came up with the idea that woman shouldn't drive anyway ? I mean there are stupid laws and really idiotic ones...

[New Chalcedon]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/15/us-saudi-driving-idUSBRE93E0DB20130415

(Reuters) - Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince AlWaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah, has thrown his support behind allowing Saudi women to drive, saying it makes economic sense.

Women are barred from driving in the Arab kingdom - leaving them reliant on mostly foreign drivers.

"(The question of) women driving will result in dispensing with at least 500,000 foreign drivers, and that has an economic and social impact for the country," the prince said on his Twitter account on Sunday.

He did not spell out the economic benefits, but Saudi officials have said they are worried about the amount of money being sent out of the country by foreign workers.

Many Saudi families would also have more disposable income if they no longer had to pay for drivers.

Saudi Arabia, home to about nine million foreign workers, began a crackdown on illegal immigrants this year to boost the proportion of Saudi citizens in private sector jobs from the current 10 percent.

In the same Twitter message, the prince said he supported that campaign.

Saudi Arabia is a conservative monarchy, backed by religious scholars. It follows an austere Salafist form of Sunni Islam and allows clerics wide powers in society where they dominate the judicial system and run their own police squad to enforce religious morals.

After pro-democracy protests swept through the region in 2011, dozens of Saudi women responded to the "Women 2 Drive" campaign, posting pictures and videos of their driving on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Some of the women were detained briefly and two faced charges, including that of "challenging the monarch".

One of them was let go after signing a pledge not to drive again, while the other was sentenced to 10 lashes. Reuters could not confirm if the lashing sentence was inflicted, but a Saudi princess tweeted that it had been revoked.

While there is no written legislation banning women from driving, Saudi law requires citizens to use locally issued licenses while in the country. Such licenses are not issued to women, making it effectively illegal for them to drive.

At least Saudi Arabia is making some progress.

True, but it'd mean a lot more if the King or one of the (surviving) Sudairi Seven were to back it - the four surviving brothers are the core of royalist power in Riyadh, even though none of them is currently King. Sure, the others are "royal", but what does that mean with 7,000+ members of the Saudi Royal Family?

[Riparian March]

[quote="Divair";p="13973097"

True, but it'd mean a lot more if the King or one of the (surviving) Sudairi Seven were to back it - the four surviving brothers are the core of royalist power in Riyadh, even though none of them is currently King. Sure, the others are "royal", but what does that mean with 7,000+ members of the Saudi Royal Family?

Yeah, but that is why they don't. I am pretty sure Arab culture is indirect, so I imagine they might have one of the less important Prince's propose it. That way it creates a national discussion and they can sound out the idea with little risk. If there is a huge domestic backlash against it, the King doesn't risk anything, and no one talks about it again. No big deal.

[Churchilland]

It's a start towards rights, I suppose

[Radiatia]

What? That's disgusting. It's just wrong for women to be allowed to drive. They're not like us. What if they have a PMS attack in the middle of an intersection, causing accidents? Don't they know driving causes women to grow beards!?

I am outraged!

[Risottia]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/15/us-saudi-driving-idUSBRE93E0DB20130415

(Reuters) - Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince AlWaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah, has thrown his support behind allowing Saudi women to drive, saying it makes economic sense.

Damn pinko elitist commie hippies... next thing you'll know, they'll even support women being considered as human beings!

[The Rich Port]

Not sure if yay...

[Khadgar]

Will they still require a male relative escort everywhere? If so, it's not progress. It just means they'll have to drive their minders around.

[Risottia]

Will they still require a male relative escort everywhere? If so, it's not progress. It just means they'll have to drive their minders around.

It's good for the economy: there's never enough slaves with a driver license, you know.

[New Octopucta]

What? That's disgusting. It's just wrong for women to be allowed to drive. They're not like us. What if they have a PMS attack in the middle of an intersection, causing accidents? Don't they know driving causes women to grow beards!?

I am outraged!

Finally someone gets it.

Can anyone show me where it says in the Good Book that women should be allowed to drive?

Anyone? That's what I thought.

Allowing women to drive is the greatest human rights atrocity since allowing the placement of ramps in and around buildings.