This opinion piece in the Arab News by Dr. Khalid al-Nowaiser (a Saudi attorney) calls for an end to religious intolerance in Saudi Arabia.
A big topic - that encompasses a woman's right to drive. I'm including it here because he points out how it's in the last 30 years that officially, the 'rules' have made things more difficult for Saudi women, not better. That of course has a strong bearing on the issue of women driving. Since the article isn't per se about women driving, I'm pasting in the quote about that topic. You can read the whole article by linking on the post title above. This op-ed illustrates how the issue of women driving is connected to a much larger question that continues to grip Saudi society at all levels, even though many in the government want society to change and open up.
Personally, I agree with every word in his article. But that's just my opinion.
Quote.......
"Most irritating is the way that these religious dogmatists wrongfully meddle with our lives and personal freedoms contrary to the very teachings of Islam. Who gave them the power to decide how our lives should be lived? Why should a social issue like women driving cars be so contentious?
Shouldn't a woman decide this? Moreover, why is a woman not entitled to travel without the consent of a man? Why are her employment opportunities so constricted? "
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