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Saudi terrorism court 'to try women drivers' | Saudi terrorism court 'to try women drivers' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Two Saudi women who were detained for defying a ban on female drivers are to be tried in a terrorism court, activists say. | Two Saudi women who were detained for defying a ban on female drivers are to be tried in a terrorism court, activists say. |
Loujain al-Hathloul, 25, and Maysa al-Amoudi, 33, have been in detention for nearly a month. | Loujain al-Hathloul, 25, and Maysa al-Amoudi, 33, have been in detention for nearly a month. |
The women's cases had reportedly been transferred over comments they had made on social media - rather than for their driving, according to activists. | The women's cases had reportedly been transferred over comments they had made on social media - rather than for their driving, according to activists. |
Saudi Arabia is the world's only country to forbid women from driving. | Saudi Arabia is the world's only country to forbid women from driving. |
While it is not technically illegal for women to drive, only men are awarded driving licences - and women who drive in public risk being fined and arrested by the police. | |
Saudi women have launched a series of campaigns - including on social media - to demand an easing of the restrictions. | Saudi women have launched a series of campaigns - including on social media - to demand an easing of the restrictions. |
A Saudi activist and writer, Hala al-Dosari, told the BBC's Newshour programme that the transfer of the women's cases was being seen as "a continuation of the effort of the authorities to curb dissent". | A Saudi activist and writer, Hala al-Dosari, told the BBC's Newshour programme that the transfer of the women's cases was being seen as "a continuation of the effort of the authorities to curb dissent". |
"This is not an isolated case," she said. "This is just a way to really curb the momentum of campaigning and [the] engagement of citizens." | "This is not an isolated case," she said. "This is just a way to really curb the momentum of campaigning and [the] engagement of citizens." |
Ms Hathloul was arrested on 1 December after she tried to drive into the kingdom from neighbouring United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to the AFP news agency. | Ms Hathloul was arrested on 1 December after she tried to drive into the kingdom from neighbouring United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to the AFP news agency. |
Ms Alamoudi, a Saudi journalist based in the UAE, was also arrested when she arrived at the border to support Ms Hathloul, the agency says. | Ms Alamoudi, a Saudi journalist based in the UAE, was also arrested when she arrived at the border to support Ms Hathloul, the agency says. |
Both women have a large following on Twitter. Ms Hathloul tweeted about her day-long wait at the Saudi border as she tried to enter the country. | Both women have a large following on Twitter. Ms Hathloul tweeted about her day-long wait at the Saudi border as she tried to enter the country. |
On Thursday, a court in al-Ahsa, in the east of the country, ruled that the women should be tried at a specialised court in Riyadh that was established to deal with terrorism cases. | On Thursday, a court in al-Ahsa, in the east of the country, ruled that the women should be tried at a specialised court in Riyadh that was established to deal with terrorism cases. |
Activists say lawyers for the women plan to appeal against the transfer. | Activists say lawyers for the women plan to appeal against the transfer. |