Saudi women challenge driving ban
Women may not be able to drive in Saudi Arabia, but they can buy cars. This women’s rights activist recently did drive a car in Saudi Arabia and placed a video of it on YouTube. The drive for liberalization is been pushed by women and men in the Western elite of the country. Some Saudi officials think the key to lifting the ban is getting more women in the workplace. The Chairman of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce says one in every twenty women is employed. In the meantime, a small number of women’s activists are using the internet to force change more quickly, and the government is more lax about this dissent than it has been in the past. And it’s believed King Abdullah wants the ban to be lifted as well. This remains though a deeply conservative country and until the government lifts the ban, little action is expected.
The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.