Saudi woman drives an F1 car to hold driving license in Saudi Arabia.

Pedro_P

Since June 24, for the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, women can drive cars in the conservative Islamic kingdom.

Saudi businesswoman Aseel al-Hamad celebrated the end of the ban on driving cars for women in Saudi Arabia with a return aboard a Formula 1 car before the French Grand Prix.












▼ Al-Hamad, member of the Motor Federation of Arabia Sauditay of the Women's Committee for Sport of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), manned a Lotus-Renault of the 2012 season at the Paul Ricard circuit, with which the Finn Kimi Raikkonen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
"Doing this the day women can drive in the streets of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shows what you can achieve when you have the passion and courage to dream," said Aseel al-Hamad, a leading interior designer.
Since June 24, for the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, women can take the wheel in the Islamic conservative kingdom. The measure is part of a series of reforms that drives the Saudi royal family to open the country. In recent weeks, the authorities issued the first driver's licenses to women, so that today they can start driving.
"This is a big step forward for women's rights, for motorsport and for women in motor sport," said Jean Todt, president of the FIA.

• On the other hand... The ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, in force for decades, came to an end on Sunday and the drivers, excited and proud, began to circulate in Riyadh with a feeling of freedom even if the discriminations persist.
Putting an end to a ban unique in the world, Saudi Arabia authorized women to drive from this Sunday at 00:00 local, a historic reform for this ultraconservative kingdom of 32 million inhabitants.
As soon as the ban was lifted, the women began to drive the illuminated avenues of the capital, Riyadh, and other cities of the kingdom. Some put the music of their cars at full volume.
"It's a historic moment for all Saudi women," said Sabika Al Dosari, a television presenter, before crossing the border with Bahrain aboard a sedan.
Just after midnight, Samar Almogren turned the ignition key of his car for the first time, an unforgettable moment for this woman who had already driven abroad but never in Saudi Arabia.
"I have chills all over my body, taking the wheel after spending years in the back seat, now it's my responsibility and I'm smarter than ever to take it," said Samar, totally dressed in white, which for her is "the color of peace". "The black abaya has become the symbol of the Muslim woman, but there is no religious text that prescribes a woman to wear a black abaya," she added.
Also some men celebrated the moment. "It's a great achievement," said a Saudi prince, billionaire Al Walid bin Talal, in a video of his daughter Reem driving a 4x4, with her granddaughters clapping in the back seat.











--- Patriarchal system ---
This decision, driven by Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salmán, is part of a modernization plan for Saudi Arabia.
"Women live in a patriarchal system in Saudi Arabia," says Hana Al Jamri, author of a book on women in journalism in Saudi Arabia that will be published shortly. The new measure "will help to challenge social and gender norms that hinder mobility, autonomy and independence."
This change will allow many women to stop depending on private drivers or family members and will be a saving for families.
"The saudi experience a sense of justice, for a long time, they were denied a fundamental right that kept them confined and dependent on men, which made it impossible for them to lead a normal life," explains Najah Al Otaibi, an analyst at the center. of reflection pro-Saudi Arabia Foundation.
Some three million women could get permission and start driving from now until 2020, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Driving schools were opened in cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah. Some even teach driving Harley Davidson bikes, something unthinkable just a year ago.
Many women said in social networks what they thought to do this Sunday, like accompanying their mother to have a coffee or an ice cream, something banal for the rest of the world but exceptional in Saudi Arabia.
For decades, conservatives relied on rigorist interpretations of Islam to justify the ban on driving, some even claiming that women were not smart enough to get behind the wheel.
From the economic point of view, the end of the ban could stimulate the employment of women and, according to an estimate by Bloomberg, add 90,000 million dollars to the economy by 2030.



Some three million women could get permission and start driving from now until 2020, according to Pricewaterhouse Coopers. (Photo: AFP)
--- Repression ---
But many women fear continuing to be targeted by conservatives in Saudi Arabia where men maintain the status of "guardians."
In fact, the women must be veiled and still subject to important restrictions: they can not travel, study or work without the permission of their husbands or the men of their family.
The government recently adopted measures against abuses punishing sexual harassment with five years in prison and a fine of 300,000 riyals (69,000 euros).
Under the impetus of Prince Mohamed, who became heir to the throne a year ago, Saudi Arabia also authorized the opening of movie theaters and mixed concerts, a sign of his intention to return to "moderate Islam".
But the enthusiasm that prompted the announcement of their reforms was marred by a wave of repression against activists who, among other causes, long opposed the ban on driving.
According to the authorities, nine of the more than a dozen people, including women, detainees are still imprisoned. They are accused of having attacked the security of the kingdom and of having helped the "enemies" of the State.
"The joy, confidence and pride expressed by the women who are leading for the first time in Saudi Arabia without fear of being detained made me cry," the feminist Hala al-Dosari, who praised the detained militants, said in a tweet.
"I am happy and relieved (...) the saudit girls will survive a little more free than their mothers," she added.

►: Source

bsk

Great

soothsayer

Truly a great event deserving celebration in style!Formula 1 Indeed!

anuragdani

Finally people are realising what is right !!

Amittkumarr

Finally..!

jburman

Finally freedom to woman rights

leesam3

That was a long struggle.  A historic ruling in the favour of women!