JEDDAH: An Eastern Province police spokesman told Arab News on Tuesday that the identity of the young woman from Hofuf, who reportedly stole her brother’s car, picked up a friend and went for a joyride that ended up with the vehicle wrecked in a stream, will not be revealed.
Al-Riyadh newspaper reported the incident on Tuesday.
Citing “ta’ashir,” an Islamic privacy principle, Col. Yousuf Al-Qahtani said details of the incident are also being kept under wraps. “Such information is confidential and if it is announced in the press it would be ‘ta’ashir’ (publicizing),” said the colonel.
Al-Qahtani added that the issue is being left for the families of the young women to resolve.
In Saudi Arabia, there is no explicit law banning women from driving. However, there is a cultural ban that is enforced by the authorities.
Arab News had reported in July about the death of a 21-year-old Saudi woman who died when her car overturned in Riyadh.
In the same month, a 23-year-old woman was reported driving in Al-Azizia district of Jeddah.
