Najla Hariri to stand trial for defying driving ban

By RIMA AL-MUKHTAR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: A Saudi woman who flouted a ban on women driving is to stand trial after the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution in Jeddah decided to prosecute her, a local daily reported.

Najla Hariri, who drove her car more than once to support the “Women2Drive” and “My Right, My Dignity” campaigns was detained for driving on Prince Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz (Tahlia) Street on the evening of Aug. 24. She was released the next day.

Sources from one of the campaigns said Hariri’s case has been referred to the Jeddah courts and the first hearing will be held next month.

My Right, My Dignity issued a statement confirming Hariri was summoned by the bureau, describing the case as unfair as the defendant is respected in society.

The campaign said it is in constant touch with the woman’s lawyer Rayan Mufti.

Arab News contacted Hariri but she declined to comment.

Comments

SYED NEAZ AHMAD

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While women are to be allowed to participate in municipal 'elections' a woman in Saudi Arabia is to be prosecuted for driving a car! Not funny, eh?

We must stop allowing ourselves to be ridiculed by others. Some people somewhere must be laughing their heads off.

TENDERHEART

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Set her free. Give her your blessing. I hope that HRH King Abdullah will grant women the right to drive cars before her trial is over... That would make world headlines. I will pray for this to happen. You know, women need to be able to care for those they love. Bless a woman with car keys, and problems will disappear. Whole families will benefit from it. Women of Arabia have proven that they are worthy of such a responsibility... So why insist that they wait any longer? Bless them. Honor them with your trust. Support them in their trials. They have been extremely patient. I have been driving since the age of 17... I am presently teaching my daughter, Veronique, and son Samuel, to drive safely. Their father doesn't have the patience to be with them in the car... Some day, when I travel to your great nation (when God will allow it), I would really like to be driving a rented car. Then, I will be able to stop along the way, and play tourist... This would give me great joy.

AMAL ALKHALIFA

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this is absurdness plain and simple
why and for what
GRRRRRRR

SELIMA

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The world began to divest when South Africa clung to it's racial Apartheid. I hope it will do the same for the issue of Saudi Arabia's gender apartheid. I hope especially Saudi women will begin to divest until they get their rights.

MUBARAK ALI PATEL

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Although Najila Hariri deserves prosecution in the court for flouting the ban on woman's driving, the court should take lenient view on her in view of King Abdullah's decree to allow women to vote and sit in Shoura Council.
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