Saudi women begin challenge to driving ban

June 17, 2011 12:58

Activists urging women in Saudi Arabia to defy a ban on driving say some have taken to the road in a planned challenge against the restrictions.

A protest organiser, Benjamin Joffe-Walt, says Saudi women drove around the capital Riyadh before dawn Friday without incident.

Web message boards set up by campaigners say other women also got behind the wheel.

The campaign follows the nine-day detention last month of a Saudi woman after she posted a video of her driving.

There is no written Saudi law banning women from driving, but it stems from religious edicts by clerics.

Meanwhile, read this bizarre report in Arab News on the luxury and necessity of women driving.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

IPL PIX: Spirited RCB knock out CSK; qualify for play-offs!

A spirited performance from their bowlers saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru outclass Chennai Super Kings by 27 runs to qualify for the play-offs.

Banking industry doyen N Vaghul dies at 88

Veteran banker N Vaghul, who led the transformation of ICICI into a private sector lender, died on Saturday afternoon due to health complications. He was 88. Vaghul took over the reins of ICICI, then a public finance institution, in...

Northwest India swelters under extreme heat as mercury breaches 45 deg C mark

The Met office has issued a "red" warning for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and west Rajasthan, stressing the need for "extreme care for vulnerable people".

Will come to BJP HQ, jail whoever you want: Kejriwal dares Modi

Kejriwal asserted that his party could not be crushed by sending its leaders to jail.

Performance is my only currency: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli says he doesn't need either approval or assurance from anyone on his capability.