Monday, July 18, 2011

US women show support for Saudi Women Drivers

Support for Saudi Arabian women openly flouting the driving ban in the deeply religious kingdom now extends as far as Ridgewood, a small town on the East Coast of the United States.

Inspired by Saudi women’s rights activists who uploaded videos of themselves openly driving, about 15 women in Ridgewood drove through the streets in cars adorned with signs saying “Honk For A Woman’s Right to Drive.”

The organizer, Bonnie Chalek, expressed outrage that a religious fatwa prohibited women from driving in the conservative country, calling it “totally insane,” in comments published by the local newspaper.

Human rights organizations report that female Saudi activists such as Manal al-Sharif taking part in this campaign have been arrested and forced to pledge not to drive.

No comments: