The story was being widely discussed on websites and online editions of some Arabic newspapers on Sunday, but there was no official confirmation that she has written to the king. Repeated attempts by Arab News to get in touch with her lawyer, Adnan Al-Saleh, were unsuccessful.

A Jeddah-datelined AFP story quoted the lawyer as saying: “Al-Sharif hopes that the king will order her release and close her file.” Al-Sharif was arrested on May 21 while driving in Alkhobar, a day after she posted footage on the video-sharing website YouTube showing her behind the wheel.

Her father, Masoud Al-Sharif, initially spoke to the media after her arrest but has since declined to speak to any member of the media. “He is very upset at being misquoted and misrepresented in news reports,” a source told Arab News. “The father was particularly upset at the media for publishing baseless reports such as that of her breaking down in the women’s prison in Dammam.”

The other reason for the father not to speak to the media, according to the source, is to avoid unnecessary controversies.

“Some sections of the media have indeed tried to sensationalize the whole story without realizing the adverse impact it has on her case,” the source said.

Al-Sharif's father called on Eastern Province Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Fahd last week and explained his daughter's situation and change of heart.

“She has committed a mistake and has now realized her mistake and has since withdrawn from the so-called June 17 campaign through a social media website that incited women to take the wheel,” he was quoted as saying in the local Arabic media.

Al-Sharif’s father visited her Thursday at the women’s prison. Her mother met her on Saturday.

The source told Arab News that Al-Sharif is expected to be released before the expiration of her extended 10-day period of detention, which ends June 4.

Meanwhile, her five-year-old son, Abdullah, who earlier was admitted to Al-Mouwasat Hospital for stomach infection, is improving.

“He was discharged after spending three days in the hospital,” the source said. Manal is a divorcee who has custody of her son. The 32-year-old native of Wadi Fatima (between Makkah and Taif) works for Saudi Aramco as information security analyst.

Commentators on websites were divided as some of them opposed Al-Sharif’s release while a large number of them requested the king to set her free as quickly as possible.

The opponents said Al-Sharif deserved punishment for challenging the authorities and violating the law. They believe that her release would open the door for women driving. Some women called for more public transport facilities in order for them to travel without difficulty, without depending on their male relatives or foreign drivers.

Supporters requested the king to show mercy toward Al-Sharif, saying the days she has spent behind bars were enough for her. Some wanted authorities to take a written undertaking from Al-Sharif that she would not drive again. It has been noticed that the number of people supporting Al-Sharif’s release is increasing day by day.

Meanwhile, police arrested another woman, aged 48, in Bisha for driving car in Matar district of the city. A large number of people gathered when police and Haia officials stopped the woman at a school. The woman was released after taking an undertaking that she would not do it again.