According to AFP, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah al-Sheikh, in a speech delivered Wednesday in the western city of Medina, said the issue of giving women the right to drive should not be ‘one of society's major concerns’. The kingdom's most senior cleric called for ‘the matter to be considered from the perspective of protecting society from evil’ which, according to him, included letting women drive.
His comments came as activists said they had been assured by Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef that authorities were reassessing the controversial Saudi ban on women drivers. Rest assured that the issue is being discussed, and expect a good outcome, said the minister.
The absolute monarchy is the only country in the world where women are banned from driving, a regulation that has drawn condemnation from the international community.
Prince stressed that the ban was ‘a matter to be decided by the legislative authority’. Saudi Arabia has an all-appointed consultative Council, with no elected parliament. The council makes recommendations to the government, but the king remains the absolute legislator.
"We expect a royal decree that gives us this right," Yusef said. At least 16 women were stopped by police during a driving protest day last month, and were fined and forced along with their male guardians to promise to obey the kingdom's laws.
MNA
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