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Saudi Arabia driving ban on women to be lifted | Saudi Arabia driving ban on women to be lifted |
(35 minutes later) | |
Saudi Arabia's King Salman has issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time, state media say. | Saudi Arabia's King Salman has issued a decree allowing women to drive for the first time, state media say. |
Government ministries are to prepare reports within 30 days and the order will be implemented by June 2018, the Saudi Press Agency reported. | Government ministries are to prepare reports within 30 days and the order will be implemented by June 2018, the Saudi Press Agency reported. |
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to forbid women from driving. | Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to forbid women from driving. |
Rights groups have campaigned for years to allow women in Saudi Arabia to drive, and some women have been imprisoned for defying the rule. | Rights groups have campaigned for years to allow women in Saudi Arabia to drive, and some women have been imprisoned for defying the rule. |
"The royal decree will implement the provisions of traffic regulations, including the issuance of driving licences for men and women alike," the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. | "The royal decree will implement the provisions of traffic regulations, including the issuance of driving licences for men and women alike," the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said. |
The move was welcomed by the US state department, which called it "a great step in the right direction". | The move was welcomed by the US state department, which called it "a great step in the right direction". |
Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who was detained for 73 days in 2014 for flouting the ban, tweeted "thank God" following the announcement. | Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who was detained for 73 days in 2014 for flouting the ban, tweeted "thank God" following the announcement. |
Manal al-Sharif, an organiser of the Women2Drive campaign who has also been imprisoned for driving, said on Twitter that Saudi Arabia would "never be the same again". | Manal al-Sharif, an organiser of the Women2Drive campaign who has also been imprisoned for driving, said on Twitter that Saudi Arabia would "never be the same again". |
Activist Sahar Nassif in Jeddah told the BBC she was "very, very excited - jumping up and down and laughing". | |
"I'm going to buy my dream car, a convertible Mustang, and it's going to be black and yellow," she said. | |
Only men are allowed driving licences in Saudi Arabia and women who drive in public risk being arrested and fined. | |
Because of the law, many families have had to employ private drivers to help transport female relatives. | |
Saudi website Al Arabiya said about 800,000 men, mostly from South Asia, work as drivers to Saudi women. | |
Saudi law enforces a strict form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism and is known for its gender segregation rules. | Saudi law enforces a strict form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism and is known for its gender segregation rules. |
Women have to adhere to strict dress codes, must not associate with unrelated men, and if they want to travel, work or access healthcare they must be accompanied by - or receive written permission from - a male guardian. | Women have to adhere to strict dress codes, must not associate with unrelated men, and if they want to travel, work or access healthcare they must be accompanied by - or receive written permission from - a male guardian. |
The Islamic kingdom recently faced a backlash from conservatives on social media after allowing women to participate in Saturday's National Day celebrations for the first time. | The Islamic kingdom recently faced a backlash from conservatives on social media after allowing women to participate in Saturday's National Day celebrations for the first time. |
The festivities included fireworks, light shows and a concert in King Fahd International Stadium in the capital, Riyadh. | The festivities included fireworks, light shows and a concert in King Fahd International Stadium in the capital, Riyadh. |
What is your reaction? Are you a woman who'd like to drive in Saudi Arabia? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | What is your reaction? Are you a woman who'd like to drive in Saudi Arabia? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |