KSA’s Shura Council Calls to Ease Saudi Driving Ban on Women

Local Editor

The Saudi king's advisory council has recommended that the government lift its ban on female drivers, a member of the council told the Associated Press Friday.
The Shura Council's recommendations are not obligatory on the government, but simply making the recommendation was a major step after years of the kingdom staunchly rejecting any review of the ban.

There have been small but increasingly bold protests by women who took to their cars over the past year. The driving ban is unique in the world.

The council member said the Shura Council made the recommendations in a secret, closed session held in the past month. The member spoke on condition of anonymity because the recommendations had not been made public.

Under the recommendations, only women over 30 would be allowed to drive and they would need permission from a male relative - usually a husband or father, but lacking those, a brother or son. They would be allowed to drive from 7 am to 8 p.m. Saturday through Wednesday and noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

The Saudi weekend was changed in 2013 to Friday and Saturday by royal decree. It is not immediately clear why the Saudi king's advisory council chose to make different proposed driving times for woman on Thursday and Friday.
The conditions also require that a woman driver wear conservative dress and no makeup, the official said. Within cities, they can drive without a male relative in the car, but outside of cities, a male is required to be present.

The council said a "female traffic department" would have to be created to deal with female drivers if their cars broke down or they encountered other problems, and to issue fines. It recommended the female traffic officers be under the supervision of the "religious agencies."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team