of ABC News asking him whether he would support
allowing women to drive, King Abdullah, Custodian of the
Two Holy Mosques, was forthright. “I believe strongly in
the rights of women … my mother is a woman, my sister
is a woman, my daughter is a woman, my wife is a
woman,” he said. “I believe the day will come when
women drive. In fact, if you look at the areas in Saudi
Arabia, the deserts and in the rural areas, you will find
that women do drive. The issue will require patience. In
time, I believe it will be possible.”
Prodded further about the exact time when women could
get behind the wheel, King Abdullah added: “Our people
are just now beginning to open up to the world, and I
believe that, with the passing of days in the future,
everything is possible.”
However, after five years of harsh and haunting debate,
I believe things are changing. People are now open to
the idea of at least discussing the issue of women
driving.
Now, hundreds of activists have already set up Facebook
groups and campaigns calling for Manal’s release and an
end to the driving ban. A Facebook page titled “We are
all Manal Al-Sharief: a call for solidarity with Saudi
women’s rights,” has been growing in popularity.
Contrary to that, the deplorable ‘Iqal campaign’ has been
also launched on Facebook calling for men to beat Saudi
women who drive their cars in protest.
Whatever be the case, the fact remains that Saudi Arabia
is the only country in the world in which women are not
allowed to drive. Thus, every time the issue is raised in
the global arena, it will give the Western media another
chance to take potshots at women’s lack of
independence in the Kingdom.
We should not consider driving an issue at all.
We must be a ware of what we are saying in this case
and do not be hasty in passing judgments
What we need is only time
May someday we laugh at what we have said