The Saudi Women are they also seeking their rights as other Arab women
The Saudi society gets its Gender roles from Sharia (Islamic law) and tribal culture. The Arabian peninsula is the ancestral home of patriarchal, nomadic tribes, in which separation of women and menhas to do with honor.
All women, regardless of age, are required to have a male guardian. Women cannot vote or be elected to high political positions. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving. Saudi Arabia is ranked 130th out of 134 countries for gender parity. It was the only country to score a zero in the category of political empowerment.
While some women are against this there is evidence that many women in Saudi Arabia do not want radical change. Even many advocates of reform describe foreign countries' critics as failing to understand the uniqueness of Saudi society.
Opponents of women driving argue that it's safer for females to have a male in the car with them, and that they are honouring their women by relieving them of the strain of driving.
One of the rights Saudi women are deprived of is driving. Due to this there is about four million foreign drivers in the country and Saudi women would like to get rid of them and drive themselves.
One Woman is taking the lead. The first step is the most important step.
This is Najla Hariri who says she was inspired by the Arab Spring protests
In some desert areas of Saudi Arabia, women are understood to occasionally drive, but it's virtually unheard of for a woman to take to the road in a major city.
The 45-year-old holds a driving license from both Egypt and Lebanon from her time living abroad, and also has an international license that she uses when she drives in Europe.
"Enough is enough", she said as she drove around the Jeddah city. "I have the right to [drive]."
adding "There is no law against women driving. It's just a society's convention, tradition or Orf in Arabic that says women are not allowed to drive."
Ms Hariri holds a driving license from both Egypt and Lebanon from her time living abroad, and also has an international license that she uses when she drives in Europe.
The mother of five has the support of her husband and says her daughters and their friends are very proud of her. She knows however that she could be stopped at any moment by the police.
Najla Hariri started driving around Jeddah last week. She is believed to be the only woman regularly driving in a Saudi city.
She returned to Saudi Arabia two years ago and was tempted to start driving immediately.
She found herself stuck at home with two cars but no driver as her husband and eldest son were both away. "But I waited for the right time; I waited for other ladies to go first" she says.
As no-one stepped forward; she has decided that now is the moment.
Wow!!!
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