Saudi Arabia Women Hail End of Islam-Imposed Driving Ban

The government of Saudi Arabia has promised to end the Islam-imposed ban on women drivers — and now females are calling it a “great victory.”

Saudi was the only country in the world that banned women from driving, the BBC reported.

Apparently, that ban is being lifted.

From the BBC:

Campaigners in Saudi Arabia have hailed King Salman’s decree allowing women to drive for the first time.

One female activist called it a “great victory”, while another said things would “never be the same again”.

The country’s US ambassador has described the move as “the right decision at the right time”.

The Gulf kingdom is the only country in the world that bans women from driving – and women are still subject to strict dress codes and gender segregation.

Until now, only men were allowed licenses and women who drove in public risked being arrested and fined.

The overturn of the ban comes after much international pressure.

It was announced by royal decree on state-run television.

From CNN:

A newly-formed committee will present its findings within 30 days on how the policy should be implemented.

Saudi women will reportedly be able to apply for their own driving licenses without having to secure the permission of their male guardians. However, rules that govern the guardianship of women continue to restrict many aspects of everyday life for the country’s female population.

Saudi Arabia, which adheres to some of the strictest interpretations of Sunni Islam in the world, has long prevented women from taking on a larger role in its society.

The 2016 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum ranked the kingdom 141 out of 144 countries on gender parity. Trailing behind Saudi Arabia were Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen.

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This article by Pamela Geller