Allowing women to drive would "provoke a surge in prostitution, pornography, homosexuality and divorce". Academics at the Majlis al-Ifta' al-A'ala, which is Saudi Arabia's highest religious council, said the relaxation of the rules would inevitably lead to “no more virgins”. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are banned from driving. The academics, working in conjunction with Kamal Subhi, a former professor at the conservative King Fahd University, produced the conclusions in a report for the country's legislative assembly, the Shura Council. It warned that allowing women to drive would "provoke a surge in prostitution, pornography, homosexuality and divorce". Within 10 years of the ban being lifted, it claimed, there would be "no more virgins" in the Islamic kingdom. It pointed out that "moral decline" could already be seen in those other Muslim countries in which women are allowed to drive. In the report Prof Subhi described sitting in a coffee shop in an unnamed Arab state where "all the women were looking at me". "One made a gesture that made it clear that she was available,” he said. “This is what happens when women are allowed to drive.” Women caught driving in Saudi face corporal punishment. In September, Shaima Jastaniya, 34, a Saudi woman, was sentenced to 10 lashes with a whip after being caught driving in Jeddah. There has been strong protest in the country about the sentence, which was later overturned by King Abdullah, and about the law generally but resistance to reform remains strong among the traditionally conservative royal family and clerics. The Saudi government is currently considering a proposal to ban women – already forced to cover up most of their body in public – from even displaying their eyes, if they are judged too “tempting Look here to read the original Daily Telegraph report Interestingly it's filed under "Motoring news."
Reading this news item actually did make me LOL. No, I am not being ethnocentric. Just thought for a moment that someone must have been given an advanced copy of the Jeremy Clarkson bumber book of Jokes. It doesn't seem to me to be an ideal position from which to engage in logical debate.
But then again................... In certain countries, dominated by sexist religious zealots you get all sorts of fictionalized excuses to further subjugate women. Unfortunately very little can be done, or seen to be done, to help. Ignorance plays a huge part in the thought process, especially if a certain book has to be obeyed to the letter, without questioning the various discrepancies, with modern life, therein.
I do know that Saudi Arabia has no written ban on women driving. However driving licenses are not issued to women. So if they get caught driving....................
As I've mentioned many times before, what gives any country the right to look down on other countries? I was in Sau'di for a couple of years, albeit on and off ships for the duration. During the time that I spent ashore, I never saw hundreds of people fighting or throwing up in the streets. I never saw vice or prostitution. I saw families walking along the seafront at nights in quiet happiness.
Having being brought up respecting women, of all kind, and professions, I find difficulties in condoning abuse, whichever way is described. I do see your point, and wouldn't mind sitting down and have drinkie-poos together and discuss the meaning of life... 43...???
Hi Dom, As you are Italian, you will well understand the phrase "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". There are many things in other countries that are hard to understand..... Yes, perhaps one day we can meet, maybe with Keith too
Ah........... Rome............... Circus Maximus......... At Lion feeding time must have been a sight to behold.... Crunchy Christians served with a dusting of sweat........
