Manama: A member of Saudi Arabia’s Shura (Consultative) Council has triggered an intense debate on social networks after he posted a tweet about women’s right to drive.
“Until when shall we ban women from driving cars? And until when do we have to fight harassment?” Eisa Al Ghaith posted on his microblog account.
The tweet was shared hours after media in Saudi Arabia published a report about how a woman in the Eastern Province had to jump out of a moving car after the driver, from an Asian country, harassed her verbally, local news site Al Weam reported.
Women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia and depend on male relatives or drivers, mainly foreigners, to go to any place.
The country has been witnessing tense debates, mainly on social media, over the merit of allowing women to drive, with each camp resorting to social, economic and religious arguments to reinforce their views.
Al Ghaith’s tweet was the latest trigger to re-launch the debate.
“Sorry, Eisa, but you cannot understand or appreciate the situation better than the interior ministry which has banned women from driving,” Zayer, a blogger, posted. “The matter has been settled and women should understand that they cannot and will not drive,” he posted.
Cloud, another blogger, scorned Al Ghaith’s request, saying that he should devote his time to more important things.
“You seem to have solved all women’s woes and there is only the driving issue that is bothering you. According to your logic, women are not harassed if they drive their own cars,” Cloud said.
However, those who supported him praised his “courage” to speak his mind and highlight the need to allow women to drive.
“Your words are the truth and they seem to hurt those who do not want to see Saudi Arabia progress,” the Pen of the Truth said.
Another blogger, writing under the moniker of Jacqueline, lauded Al Ghaith.
“You are absolutely right and they should allow women to drive. This is after all her basic right. King Abdullah has given women some of the rights they had been denied by a male-dominated society. We look forward to a decision that allows women to drive,” Jacqueline wrote.
Saudi Arabia has witnessed a bold empowerment of women and a greater presence at public events since King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud assumed power in August 2005.
Seen as a champion of women’s rights, the king has appointed 30 women to the Shura, the advisory council, in a historic breakthrough for Saudi society. Ambitious economic plans that weathered challenging storms from conservative segments of the society have enabled thousands of local women to find employment in the private sector.
Today, the sight of female cashiers in large supermarkets in the Eastern Province has become familiar while it was a social taboo a few months ago.
