MADINAH, 21 November 2007 — Saudi Arabia has the honor of being the only country in the world — including the Muslim and Arab worlds — that prohibits women from driving cars.
But apparently a Kuwaiti woman and her brother were unaware that this prohibition applies to all women, regardless of whether they come from countries that allow women drivers.
According to yesterday’s Al-Madinah daily, Saudi Highway Patrol officers pulled over a car on the Madinah-Jeddah highway because they noticed a woman driving.
When the officers approached the car, both the woman and the man seated next to her rolled down the windows and asked if there was a problem. When questioned, the two explained that they were brother and sister and were driving from Kuwait to Jeddah. The brother, who got tired of driving, gave his sister the wheel so he could take a nap.
After officers pointed out that women were not allowed to drive in the Kingdom, the brother and sister pleaded ignorance.
The officers issued a warning to the siblings and let them go about their journey on the condition that the brother drives the rest of the way. (Because, after all, it’s much better for a tired, travel-weary man to drive a car than any woman!)
The Saudi press consistently reports instances of women getting caught behind the wheel. Usually these “offenders” sneak the family car out of the house — without the knowledge of their male guardians — for a joy ride but what made this situation unique was the fact that the woman was accompanied by a man.
Interestingly enough, the Saudi government has pointed out in the past that, in fact, there is no specific law that prohibits women from driving, but rather it’s a socially imposed restriction. That might be true, but try explaining that to a police officer the next time you let your sister get behind the wheel.
