Saudi woman jailed because she drove her car

Manal al-Charif, a Saudi woman, was locked up for 10 days because she drove her car. But she was release today after a caution payment.
A manifestation is set for June 17 to support "hitting" female drivers by men if they see one. There is no law prohibiting women to drive but the interdiction to drive for women is based on a tough religious versus of islam.

Source

 

That was not fair. However what about those women who want to wear Burqa in France and Belgium? Why they are being jailed?

 

They're not being jailed. If they refuse to obey the law at the first warning, they get a ticket on the second warning. Plus, they can't wear it only in public.
Of course, the keyword here is LAW. There is no law in Saudi Arabia prohibiting women to drive...

 

I've read as a condition of release, Manal also had to sign a statement saying she will never drive again, or talk to any reporters about this. I'm not clear if June 17th will continue as planned, in a way, it may be just as well if it didn't, as I've heard some men were planning to beat women drivers, and of course, they could be imprisoned as well. Hopefully though, at least the campaign will continue (even if slowly) to overturn the ban on women driving. And, eventually allow women in Saudi Arabia to vote, hold political positions, reject the notion of a male guardian, for all that choose to.

 

How about those men that just want to go for a walk and carry their AK-47

Anyway Saudi laws are as restrictive as usual , I'm so glad we keep buying their oil .

 

Yes there is.

This thread is a failure.

 

I don't understand why Women don't stand-up to what they believe or do they not think it's worth believing in their freedoms or do they wait for a man to die for their beliefs?

Women should take a stance on what they believe in life, die for it if you must. Life without liberty is death.

 

Now this suits you better .

I don't know maybe beacuse they are affraid of being you know ... beaten to death , being mangled by fists , acid or knife , being stoned to death , you know that kind of nice things .

 

Right. And, specifically, even with Manal signing that paper (agreeing not to drive again or talk to the press), like the cliche says, -- "It's wiser to pick and choose your battles carefully." She's probably not interested in becoming some kind of martyr for driving, languishing in a Saudi jail cell. From what I've read she has a little 5 yr old boy, is married, and I'm sure is very happy to be with her family again. I think for others, as with the potential protest on June 17, I think they're courageous, but also, it is risky while men are now talking about beating them, and of course, they may be arrested. It's hard to understand, driving, voting, being able to accept a job without a male relatives permission, it seems these are all very basic rights that they should not have to be in fear of exercising.

 

Seems the mystical moon light god energies means that only Saudi woman can't drive are still affecting the country. I hope the moon light messiah come down and redeems this wicked spell that only seems to affect certain countries.

 

Double check. There is no (legal and not religious) law prohibiting women to drive in Saudi Arabia.

 

Women who wear burqa in publicj are following their religion and restricting them to follow their religion is a new law in france. So this is what you call Law? Lol restriction only in public.. where else they will wear a burqa? in their home? And you are saying there is no law in Saudi Arabia prohibiting women to drive.. so you want one more law which harms people freedom?

 

Exactly. Saudi Arabia is still in the stone age when it comes to equal rights for women. There is nothing in Islam itself which forbids a woman to drive, vote, own property, have a job or business, etc. In most other Muslim majority countries, these rights are respected. Ok, not 100% respected at all times, but they are still light years more advanced than Saudi Arabia.

Besides, the Saudi rulers are known to be a shining example of hypocrisy, similar to the "family values conservatives" in the States. While they impose morality on other people, they organize private parties with alcohol, strippers, dancing, etc. all of which is supposed to be a strict no-no according to them. Hmm... "Do what I say, but not what I do" seems to be their motto.

This is a bit of a different issue. Wearing face coverings in public creates a security risk as it prevents identification of persons, furthermore it is quite awkward to address someone wearing a burqa in public, such as in school or during a political meeting, etc.

But the key issue is: do these women REALLY WANT to dress like ninjas or beekeepers? Do they really want to wear a black drape over them when its 35 degrees out? My guess is that the number of women who have voluntarily decided to do this can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The rest have either been forced to wear it by their husbands, or indoctrinated by their family since they were children ("You MUST wear a burqa or else you are an evil slut of Satan like all the European women, blah blah blah").

 

No, they're free to follow their religion, like everybody else...

No need. Their freedom is harmed anyway, law or no law...

 

I believe "family values" conservatives tend to stick with "family values" strippers. Its all for a good cause, helping put those poor girls through school.

 

The Saudi government made the decision to ban women from driving for their own welfare and safety. There is little you can do about this.

Fix your own countries, Saudi Arabia is a safe haven for women.

 

You maybe right, here in the U.S they are constantly being beaten,rape,abducted,mutilated and killed, because they are powerless. Just read the local news source (of any city) you'll always find a fresh article about women being wrong. This topic is just another one of those "getting in some one elses business thread" so that they can say they are better than every body.

 

For their own welfare and safety?
WTF?
You know that men is usually more aggressive when driving than women, right?
So why not ban the men instead?

 

Still, it appears the denial of basic equal rights for women in Saudi Arabia is based on Islam (at least their version). I'm not sure of this, but I don't think King Abdullah would object to women driving. Here is an old interview by Barbara Walters in October of 2005. She asks him what he feels about women driving, -- To me, his response indicates he probably does support it, but feels that it will take time. I think the reason it will take time is appeasement of the conservative religious leaders in Saudi. Of course, I may be wrong, but that's my take on it. As far as other Muslim majority countries, I think there is a direct relation to the oppression of women, and Sharia or Islamic law. Probably the more secular they are, the more equitable the laws will be.

 

I guess you know more about women safety in Saudi Arabia when they drive. What happen? are the men beating her when they see a woman driving?

As for my country, it's now impossible to fix. It's way to social to succeed. North Africa massive immigration is the biggest issue since the last 20 years.
We are there to help. We are helping people. Once on the ground, they receive about 1,200 Euros per month right away and a free place to stay. Who pays? working people. Then they get another check for each new born until they reach 18y/o. They understand that to make a dozen of babies will make them rich with no need to work. But you get bored when you don't work or do anything. So they use to steal old ladies in subway stations or in stores. That's just a bonus in their payday. Of course, some end in jail. 40% or jail people are not national. It's a lot. But they get out much easier because they are taking over the power. They are in the senate and now, a few member of the government. I guess it's now too late to fix my country. That's one of the reasons I left it back in 1994...