.... In recent months scores of women have driven vehicles in Saudi cities in an effort to put pressure on Saudi's absolute monarchy to change the law. Two other women are due to appear in court later this year on similar charges.The king's proclamation this week that women could vote was widely hailed as ground-breaking move in the right direction.
But under Saudi Arabia's strict Islamic laws, women still require a male guardian's permission to work, travel abroad or even undergo some medical procedures.
Although women are not permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia, 45,000 Saudi women have licences obtained abroad. They also purchase 40 per cent of all cars sold in the country. [The Scotsman] Read more
