Why Saudi Arabia can't ban women from driving forever - CNN.com Why Saudi Arabia can't ban women from driving forever By Mohammed Jamjoom, CNN Updated 10:31 AM ET, Fri October 25, 2013 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. JUST WATCHED Women drive for change in Saudi Arabia 02:24 Story highlights Saudi women are preparing to defy a ban in the kingdom on women driving Mohammed Jamjoom, who grew up in Jeddah, recalls women dressing up as men to drive Saudi Arabia's guardianship system means women can't legally be responsible for own affairs October 26 Women's Driving Campaign has garnered more than 16,000 petition signatures There's something extraordinary happening in Saudi Arabia right now. I should know -- you see, I was born there, lived there half my life, speak the language and understand the customs. Lately, I'm both amazed at and humbled by what I'm seeing: Extremely brave Saudi women, more driven than ever to change their society, despite the sad fact that they still aren't allowed to drive.

And while it's true there's no formal law that bans females from getting behind the wheel in the ultra-conservative kingdom, it is also by no means a stretch to say they are, indeed, prohibited from doing so. Unfortunately, that's just the way it's always been in a society where religious edicts are often interpreted to mean it is illegal for women to drive. MORE: Saudi Arabia warns women ahead of protest I've reported on this subject for years and must admit, it's a personal one for me. Some of my earliest memories entail trying to figure out why my American mother would always drive me around Oklahoma City, where we spent our summers, but could never take me around Jeddah, where we lived the rest of the year. To be honest, I only began pondering that mystery at the age of four on the days when my Saudi father was out of town on business, our driver was off, and I wanted ice cream. In the U.S., it was easy for my mom and I to hop in her car and go grab a banana split. What I wanted to know was why it was such a big deal in Saudi Arabia.

Now, as a new online campaign urging Saudi women to defy their country's driving ban kicks into high gear, I find myself reflecting on how much the issue has impacted my life. MORE: Detained Saudi blogger's high hopes about campaign Much of it goes back to one brutally hot afternoon when I was 6 years old, living in Jeddah, playing in the front yard -- completely startled seeing my 15-year-old neighbor sneaking out of her house dressed like her Saudi father. She wasn't just wearing his clothes, she'd drawn a moustache on her face and was hoisting his car keys too. Her mission was simple but dangerous: Take her dad's car for a spin around the neighborhood as he napped. In any other country, a simple act of rebellion. In Saudi Arabia, one that can, and has, gotten women arrested. A few days ago, as we were filming our latest report on the women's driving campaign, I asked prominent Saudi journalist Buthaina Al-Nasr if she'd ever done anything similar.

Laughing at the memory, she admitted how, once, at the age of 14, she'd borrowed her older brother's car and taken it for a spin around the farm, far from the traffic of the city and any of its police. Buthaina went on, describing how much she and her female friends longed to drive cars. She explained how they also wanted to ride bikes, or even just simply walk around "freely" - other activities for which Saudi women can face severe disapproval. There was really only one solution. "We'd dress up like men," explained Buthaina, "like boys, and we'd go around and it felt fun." Her anecdote made me smile even as it struck me as terribly sad. You see, "fun" is something that many of my female Saudi relatives told me over and over again they needed a lot more of. It was the main reason my neighbor took her dad's car for that joyride -- which she'd been able to do without getting caught. To me, seeing how absolutely exhilarating the experience had been for her, she'd become a hero. A couple of days later, I asked her when she'd do it again. A funny look appeared on her face.

"I don't know. I'm not sure what the point is," she told me. "It'll just make me want to keep driving more and more. I shouldn't want that." It took me a long time to finally understand. She'd had a small but wonderful taste of fun and freedom, one she felt most Saudi women would never get. That made it hard to deal with, harder still for her to do it again. For her, it ended up being more bitter than sweet. In Saudi Arabia, women aren't simply kept from obtaining drivers' licenses. No, they must contend with many more restrictions. The country's mandatory guardianship system means women cannot legally be responsible for their own affairs. As such, a growing number of voices, both male and female, are calling for those laws to be repealed. MORE: Cleric says driving could damage women's ovaries Author Abdullah Al-Alami, one of the most prominent Saudi men supporting the women's new driving campaign, is among them. "There is a group of ultraconservatives here who will try to do anything and everything to prevent women from exercising their rights," Al-Alami told me. "Be it driving, going to school, working, traveling for that matter, receiving medical care.

Many men that I know, we feel that it is crucial for us to support women who do this." During my formative years, I was lucky -- I got to spend lots of time with very strong, independent, assertive women. My American mother, Saudi aunts and female cousins - they discussed women's rights all the time. I listened to countless conversations where it was decided how it would be impossible for Saudi Arabia to forever bar women from driving. They said the reasons were numerous: that it didn't make sense economically; that it was too much of a burden on families to hire drivers; that Saudi society was advancing. And then there was the horror story recounted by my aunt about the woman who lived down the street from her -- the woman whose husband was at work, whose driver was running an errand, whose child had been injured. There was no way for her to get him to the hospital in time. The laws will have to change, they'd say. In five to 10 years, they insisted, women would, no doubt, be allowed to drive. I first heard that refrain 33 years ago, in 1980, before my parents and I moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital.

I've been hearing it ever since. It wasn't until 1991 that I thought the time might have finally come. That's when 47 women protested the prohibition by driving through the streets of Riyadh. It was scandalous -- dozens of the women were detained, banned from travel and suspended from their workplaces. A second ray of hope appeared in May 2011, when prominent women's rights activist Manal Al-Sharif uploaded to YouTube a video of herself driving in Saudi Arabia. As a result, she spent nine days in jail. But on June 17, dozens of women across Saudi Arabia, emboldened and inspired by her ordeal, went ahead, risked punishment and participated in the "Women2Drive" campaign -- they didn't just drive around, they also filmed and uploaded videos of themselves doing so. Still the laws did not change. And now, the latest iteration is at hand. The October 26 Women's Driving Campaign has so far garnered more than 16,000 signatures on its online petition, but as it turns out, women aren't waiting until October 26. Many have already gone out, taken videos, posted them online. It's incredible to see.

Buthaina Al-Nasr is an active supporter of the campaign. She lives in Lebanon now but talked to me at length about why the Saudi government needs to finally lift the ban -- after all, it is the last country in the world that does not allow women to drive. After driving her eight-year-old son Hisham to school, she told me a bit more about how much she'd love to be able to do the same in Saudi Arabia. She then shared a recurring daydream she has about being able to drive a car in her home country while wearing a dress -- not while dressed up like her father or brother. "It's a silly daydream," she told me, "but that's a fact. It's the reality of my society." Then she added, "I mean the daydream of a young girl should be how to get to the moon ... Not driving a car." SUSIE of ARABIA: Women Can't Drive Here, But Children Can! Thursday, September 17, 2009 Women Can't Drive Here, But Children Can! I drove cars legally in the United States for 40 years before moving to Saudi Arabia.

I got an "A" in my Driver's Ed class in high school (shout out to Coach Sharp!) and I have always passed my driver's tests on the first try. I have an excellent driving record. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however, bans women from driving, although out in the sparsely populated areas, women are known to drive there. To my knowledge, it is the only country in the world where it is illegal for women to drive. The most common excuse given for why women are not allowed to drive here is that it's for their own safety and protection. Now this excuse of safety doesn't really refer to the dangers of having or causing accidents. What it actually refers to is the potential for women to have more freedom and to not be under the direct control of a man. The thinking is that a woman driver would have more of a chance to hook up with someone of the opposite sex if she wanted to, which is a big no-no in this country. The funny thing is that I have spoken to many Saudi women who drive outside this country, and they have all managed to avoid becoming sluts - which is what some Saudi men think of all women drivers elsewhere in the world.

You can read a previous post I wrote about this subject not long ago. Granted, the driving conditions here in Jeddah are horrendous. Just imagine all that testosterone gunning those engines in a land where only men are allowed behind the wheel! Traffic laws seem to be non-existent here, and if there ARE traffic laws, nobody follows them and no one visibly enforces them either. But what really galls me is the fact that I - a responsible female driver with a proven track record of safety and skill and years of experience - am not allowed to drive here in Saudi Arabia, yet frequently I have seen children - specifically young boys - driving who are definitely not old enough to have a driver's license. I have tried to find out the legal driving age requirement here in Saudi Arabia, but that information is as elusive as the traffic laws. I've seen various accounts that range from 17 up to 25, and just about every age in between. All I do know is that many of the drivers I have seen here are nowhere close to approaching their 17th birthday, let alone 25.

One day I was crossing the street in a quiet residential section of town, and I was almost run over by a car driven by a boy who looked as though he couldn't have been a day over 10! These young boys drive, stretching and craning their necks in an effort to see over the steering wheel. Many of them have to sit on pillows. I don't know how they can possibly reach the gas pedal, or more importantly, the brake pedal! This is not something I see every day because I am not out and about every day, but it happens with enough frequency that I am not shocked any more when I see it - just angered that I am not allowed to drive here, yet these spoiled little brats CAN. As in many countries of the world, most boys here are raised to believe that they are superior to their sisters and are given special privileges just because they were born with a little extra appendage that girls don't have. Even though the photos accompanying this post are of poor quality, hopefully you can see that there is a child - I'm guessing he's about eight years old - driving this big SUV on the busy streets of Jeddah AT NIGHT, during Ramadan, when traffic is especially heavy.

In the front passenger seat is a bearded grown man, probably his father, visible in the photo below. It's hard to make out, but there are two other children in the back seat. None of the vehicle's occupants are wearing their seatbelts, of course. Most Saudis do not wear seatbelts as a rule, nor do they impress upon their children the importance of doing so. I really resent the fact that I am not permitted to drive here in Saudi Arabia while young boys, who aren't even into double digits in age, can and do, without penalty or objection. I am NOT one of the many fortunate women here in this country who is provided with her own driver and vehicle. Consequently I am stuck at home much of the time with not much to do. My life has been reduced to accepting invitations only when my husband agrees to drive me, which he HATES to do, or when I'm lucky enough to be invited by one of my friends who can send her driver for me. My mobility here is severely restricted, and it is something I cannot get used to. To go from having my own car and the ability to drive where and when I wanted all my life to a country where I cannot is disheartening.

Women who are caught driving in Saudi Arabia are usually hauled down to the police station, arrested, and can only be released to their male guardian ( see corroborating news article ). To me this whole system makes no sense. Not allowing women to drive causes many hardships on a family, financial burdens if the family has to hire a driver, added stress on the man of the family to drive the women around, inconveniences for everyone, makes it difficult for women to get to and from work (so most women do not work here), and more. Women here in Saudi Arabia face many challenges and barriers created by the men which make it difficult for the women with desires for a more meaningful life to become more valued contributing members of this society. When men here say women cannot drive for their own protection, yet they turn around and permit little boys to get behind the wheel in busy traffic on the streets of Jeddah, putting everyone in their paths in harms way, there is no other word for it than "preposterous." The intended purpose behind not allowing women to drive here is totally flawed and unreasonable. It all boils down to a control issue, aimed at treating women like children and at keeping women at home.

For another related post about the problems created when women must hire drivers, please read a recent blog post over at Sand Gets in My Eyes. Posted by 7 ridiculous restrictions on women’s rights around the world - The Washington Post 7 ridiculous restrictions on women’s rights around the world The inside track on Washington politics. Be the first to know about new stories from PowerPost. Sign up to follow, and we’ll e-mail you free updates as they’re published. You’ll receive free e-mail news updates each time a new story is published. You’re all set! By Caitlin Dewey By Caitlin Dewey October 27, 2013 Follow @caitlindewey The World Economic Forum's 2013 gender gap index. Countries in red and orange have the largest disparities between men and women. (WEF) With Saudi Arabian women behind the wheel since Saturday to protest their country's refusal to grant driver's licenses to women, they’re challenging not only long-standing restriction, but also a the larger system of Saudi Arabian gender-based laws, some of the harshest in the world. According to one measurement, though, there are actually several countries that rank lower on women;s rights than Saudi Arabia.

The World Economic Forum, which publishes the preeminent ranking on gender gap issues, ranked Saudi Arabia 10th from the bottom in its 2013 report -- ahead of Mali, Morocco, Iran, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Syria, Chad, Pakistan and Yemen. Women’s rights abuses are by no means limited to North Africa, West Africa or the Middle East, though that’s where we tend to hear such stories most frequently. “A lot of the most severe stuff comes out of legal or de facto guardianship systems,” said Rothna Begum, a researcher who tracks women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa for the advocacy group Human Rights Watch. But she adds that, especially in Saudi Arabia, “things are modernizing.” Here are nine other remarkable legal restrictions against women, from Asia to Latin America: 1. India (some parts): Road safety rules don’t apply to women. In some states of India, women are excepted from safety rules that mandate motorcycle passengers wear helmets -- an exemption that kills or injures thousands each year. Women’s rights advocates have argued the exemption springs from a culture-wide devaluation of women’s lives.

Supporters of the ban say they’re just trying to preserve women’s carefully styled hair and make-up -- which isn’t exactly a feminist response. 2. Yemen: A woman is considered only half a witness. That’s the policy on legal testimony in Yemen, where a woman is not, to quote a 2005 Freedom House report, “recognized as a full person before the court.” In general, a single woman’s testimony isn’t taken seriously unless it’s backed by a man’s testimony or concerns a place or situation where a man would not be. And women can’t testify at all in cases of adultery, libel, theft or sodomy. 3. Saudi Arabia and Vatican City: Women can’t vote... still. This is amazingly the case in Saudi Arabia, though a royal decree, issued in 2011, will let women vote in Saudi elections in 2015. Vatican City is the only other country that allows men, but not women, to vote. 4.

Ecuador: Abortion is illegal, unless you’re an “idiot.” Begum says this is the policy in Ecuador, where abortions have long been outlawed for everyone but “idiots” and the “demented.” Politicians are considering a policy with the more politely worded term “mentally ill,” but that won’t change abortion’s legal status in Ecuador -- or, more importantly, the fact that the law is frequently used to criminalize miscarriages. 5. Saudi Arabia and Morocco: Rape victims can be charged with crimes. Many, many countries fail to protect the victims of rape, but some go a step further -- punishing women for leaving the house without a male companion, for being alone with an unrelated man, or for getting pregnant afterwards. The most infamous case may be Saudi Arabia’s “Qatif girl,” but a recent suicide in Morocco also made headlines -- 16-year-old Amina Filali killed herself after a judge forced her to marry her alleged rapist, in keeping with a policy that invalidates statutory rape charges if the parties marry. 6. Yemen: Women can’t leave the house without their husbands’ permission.

Yemen, where this law remains in force, does allow for a few emergency exceptions, Begum says: if the woman must rush out to care for her ailing parents, for instance. Seven things women in Saudi Arabia cannot do | The Week UK Seven things women in Saudi Arabia cannot do Sep 27, 2016 email Hassan Ammar/AFP/Getty Images There is a growing campaign in Saudi Arabia to end the guardianship system which prevents women from doing vital tasks without the permission of a male relative. More than 14,000 women have signed a petition to end the practice and handed it into the government. See related Eight things women are banned from wearing around the world The system means women in the deeply conservative Islamic kingdom are unable to obtain a passport or travel abroad without the consent of either their husband, father or other male relative. "We all have to live in the borders of the boxes our dads or husbands draw for us," Zahra, 25, told Human Rights Watch . Kristine Beckerle of the organisation described the campaign as "incredible and unprecedented", adding that Saudi women have made it "undeniably clear" they won't stand to be treated as second-class citizens any longer.

Writing in the Saudi Gazette , columnist Abdullah Al-Alweet said it was "high time" the practice was brought to an end. "This traditional system should be removed completely as demanded by women activists and it should not be continued as a culture or custom," he said. Saudi Arabia's human rights record, especially with regards to protecting women, has often been called into question. Although women's rights have been incrementally extended in recent years – they were allowed to vote in municipal elections for the first time last year - their actions are still severely restricted. In a country where a woman cannot even open a bank account without her husband's permission, here are several other things they are still unable to do: Drive a car There is no official law that bans women from driving, but deeply held religious beliefs prohibit it, with Saudi clerics arguing that female drivers "undermine social values". In 2011, the "Women2Drive" campaign encouraged women to disregard the laws and post images and videos of themselves driving on social media to raise awareness of the issue in an attempt to force change. It was not a major success. Saudi journalist Talal Alharbi says women should be allowed to drive - but only to take their children to school or a family member to hospital.

"Women should accept simple things", he writes for Arab News . "This is a wise thing women could do at this stage. Being stubborn won't support their cause. Wear clothes or make-up that "show off their beauty" The dress code for women is governed by a strict interpretation of Islamic law and is enforced to varying degrees across the country. The majority of women wear an abaya – a long cloak – and a head scarf. The face does not necessarily need to be covered, "much to the chagrin of some hardliners", says The Economist . But this does not stop the religious police from harassing women for exposing what they consider to be too much flesh or wearing too much make-up. The dress code was extended to all female television presenters last year. The king's advisory body, the Shura Council, ruled they should wear "modest" clothes that do not "show off their beauty", according to Arab News . Interact with men Women are required to limit the amount of time spent with men to whom they are not related. The majority of public buildings, including offices, banks and universities, have separate entrances for the different sexes, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Public transportation, parks, beaches and amusement parks are also segregated in most parts of the country. Unlawful mixing will lead to criminal charges being brought against both parties, but women typically face harsher punishment. Go for a swim Women are not allowed to use public swimming pools available to men and can only swim in private ones or female-only gyms and spas. Reuters editor Arlene Getz describes her experience of trying to use the gym and pool at an upmarket Riyadh hotel: "As a woman, I wasn't even allowed to look at them ('there are men in swimsuits there,' a hotel staffer told me with horror) - let alone use them." Compete freely in sports Last year, Saudi Arabia proposed hosting an Olympic Games without women. "Our society can be very conservative," said Prince Fahad bin Jalawi al-Saud, a consultant to the Saudi Olympic Committee. "It has a hard time accepting that women can compete in sports." When Saudi Arabia sent its female athletes to the London Games for the first time, hardline clerics denounced the competitors as "prostitutes". The women also had to be accompanied by a male guardian and cover their hair.

Try on clothes when shopping "The mere thought of a disrobed woman behind a dressing-room door is apparently too much for men to handle," says Vanity Fair writer Maureen Dowd in A Girl's Guide to Saudi Arabia. Other more unusual restrictions on women's lives include entering a cemetery and reading an uncensored fashion magazine. However, adds Dowd, everything in Saudi Arabia "operates on a sliding scale, depending on who you are, whom you know, whom you ask, whom you're with, and where you are". But things are slowly beginning to modernise in a country that has historically had some of the most repressive attitudes towards women. "Saudi Arabia is the world's most gender-segregated nation, but amid changes now under way, multiple generations of women are debating how to be truly modern and truly Saudi," says National Geographic .

A transformation is indeed underway, confirms royal adviser Hanan Al-Ahmadi: "But we need to be able to create this change gradually and maintain our identity." Sign up for our daily newsletter Newsletter Top 10 Everyday Things Banned in Saudi Arabia - Listverse Top 10 Everyday Things Banned in Saudi Arabia Nayef A November 12, 2012 In Saudi Arabia there are no specific statutes or laws to govern by. The sole constitution that is used is the Quran, which all judges have to interpret conservatively. Many actions that are considered illegal have no actual written laws to ban them – a lot of them are not even addressed in the Quran. Some of these bans also occur in other countries, but this list is specifically about Saudi Arabia since I was born there and I grew up (along with millions of others) shackled by these laws. The general rule in regards to the legality of something is that if it is suspected to be “haram” (forbidden or clashing with Islamic law or may lead people astray from Islam) then suspicion alone is grounds for banning it.

10 Happy Valentine’s Banned: Selling or wearing anything red on Valentine’s Day Every February 14th entails the same procedure; flower shops and gift shops are prohibited from selling red roses, anything heart-shaped or red for that matter on that day by the “Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice” (CPVPV) otherwise known as the Religious Police. The penalty for violating that rule would lead to the store being shut down. Also on that day, schoolgirls are prohibited from wearing anything red – not even a red scarf. Any girl that shows up to school with a hint of red is barred from entry and is sent home to change whatever it is that is red. The usual reasoning for banning anything red on Valentine’s Day is to discourage people from celebrating it (as it is not an Islamic occasion and it may lead people “astray”) and to prevent people dating or from having any contact outside marriage. 9 Social Mixing Banned: The mixing of sexes at malls and restaurants In many malls in Saudi, only “families” are allowed. And by families, they mean either women visiting a mall by themselves, or men who are accompanied by women.

Mall security would not allow a group of men or a single man to enter unless a woman is with them. This is especially true mainly for Saudi men, while many non-Saudi men (especially Western expats) are allowed in with no problems most of the time. As for restaurants, there are typically two sections: one for families and one for singles, according to the same designation as mentioned before. In a mall McDonald’s for example, there would be two separate lines for men and women. In a standalone McDonald’s restaurant, however, there are two completely segregated sections so the men on their own would not mingle at all with the women and men on the other side. 8 The Movies Banned: Movie theaters Movie theaters are prohibited and they are only located within private company compounds, such as theaters at Saudi Aramco residential camps. The usual reason given for banning them is that they allow for men and women to mingle unsupervised, leading to possible immoral actions outside the realm of marriage. For this reason, many Saudis who live close to the island nation of Bahrain drive over there on weekends to watch movies and drink, since alcohol is also prohibited in Saudi Arabia. 7 Bacon!

Banned: Pork Since Saudi Arabia operates under Islamic law, all food entering the country must be “halal”. It is a country that considers all its citizens to be Muslim and any non-Muslim expats have to abide by its strict rules as well. Furthermore, because Saudi Arabia contains the two holy mosques, it considers having any pork inside the country desecration. Many other nations have similar laws restricting access to pork but they have never outright banned it, in order to accommodate their non-Muslim citizens and expats. 6 Music School Banned: Music classes in public schools Music is legal in Saudi Arabia and there is an active music industry. However, there are no formal schools to teach music. The general attitude for many religious people is that music is forbidden; malls and stores do not have music playing through speakers in order not to offend religious customers. Because of this attitude, schools and universities do not teach music (curricula have to follow Islamic law). Islamic classes have lessons outwardly proclaiming that music is forbidden. Those who master singing or playing an instrument either teach themselves, are taught by a tutor or learn abroad. Despite all this, there is an underground culture of rock bands and concerts hidden away from the eyes of religious officials.

5 Gyms for Girls Banned: Gyms and sports for women For a while, private gyms for women were allowed to operate until the Religious Police decided to close them down for good. In girls’ schools and universities, there are no gym classes or sports teams, and therefore there are no professional women’s teams. Saudi Arabia faces a ban from the International Olympic Committee for never sending out any female delegates and the Saudi Olympic Committee was only able to find two girls, one of whom was born and raised and trained in the United States. 4 Every Other God Banned: Other religions It is against the law for non-Muslims to worship in public in Saudi Arabia and there are no houses of worship to cater to non-Muslims. The main reason, yet again, is because the two holy mosques are located in the country and that is would be blasphemous for churches or other places of worship to exist there. If anyone converts from Islam or abandons religion, they face the death penalty. The ban is not just limited to places of worship but even extends to personal religious items such as religious books (Bibles, for example) and symbols, such as crosses and crucifixes.

All of this is in an effort to prevent non-Muslims from sharing their ideas with Muslims and possibly converting them. 3 Women At Work Banned: Women working in certain jobs Women are not allowed to do most of the jobs that men can do in Saudi Arabia. Industry-wise, the sole company that employs female engineers is Saudi Aramco, the largest oil company in the world. Other companies would not be allowed to hire women as engineers. Most women work in either education or the medical field. Women have only recently been allowed to work as store clerks or at department stores. At the time of writing, a few hypermarkets have allowed women to work at checkout counters and some department stores have allowed them to work there as well. These companies require employed women to cover their faces at all times while working. One notable place of business where women are absent from is the lingerie store, which are still fully staffed by men. 2 Roaming Women Banned: Women traveling without permission Over in Saudi Arabia, women cannot travel alone without a specific form or an electronic authorization. This ban is only lifted when a woman turns 45. Women under 45 must either travel with a husband or father or else hold a permission form signed by a male guardian.

Recently, an online travel authorization system was initiated in which the male guardian can make these arrangements less bureaucratic. Many male family members are understanding and allow the women in their families full freedom in leaving or entering the country. However, a good proportion of society views freedom of mobility for women as something that could lead to immorality and thus strictly forbid women in their home from leaving the house, let alone the country. 1 Women Behind the Wheel Banned: Women driving This is the most notorious ban involving Saudi women. Women have never been allowed to drive unless they drive in the desert or inside private compounds. Otherwise, families have to hire private drivers to take women to work and elsewhere if the men in the household have no time. The main arguments for preventing women from driving are that it may cause women to leave their houses more often than they need to (which is frowned upon); they may have interactions with unrelated males and the need to uncover their faces. Every few years movements rise up calling for women to be allowed to drive, mostly in the form of a protest in which women dare to go out and drive their cars – risking arrest and job security, among other things.

A number of women tried to obtain driver’s licenses, but were shocked to find out that the computers at license offices aren’t able to look up their information when their ID numbers are entered, as the database only includes men. More Great Lists Top 10 Craziest Laws From Around The World Here is a list of the world’s craziest laws or urban myths. We are not quite sure about these weirdest laws. Let us know which ones you think are real. 10. In France, it’s illegal for women to wear pants In 1799, a Paris law made it illegal for women to wear pants in public without special approval from the police. It was once amended in 1892 to allow women to sport trousers while riding horses and again in 1909 to permit the ladies to wear pants while on bicycles. And finally in 2013, the French government has revoked this 214-year-old law. 9. It is illegal to make funny faces at a dog in Oklahoma In Oklahoma, you can be fined, arrested or jailed for making ugly faces at a dog . 8.

In Saudi Arabia, Women not Allowed to Drive a Car Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where it is illegal for any woman to drive a car. Right now, it’s illegal for them to vote too, but King Abdullah declared that women will be able to vote and run in the 2015 local elections, as well as be appointed to the Consultative Assembly. 7. Minnesota’s Strangest Law In Minnesota, USA, it is against the law to hang female and male underwear together on the same washing line. 6. Divorce is Illegal in Philippines and Vatican You’re still not allowed to get a divorce in Philippines and Vatican. These are the only two countries in the world where divorce is illegal. In Vatican, You are allowed a divorce even you wish for it. Philippine law, in general, does not provide for divorce for anyone living in the country. The only exception is with respect to Muslims, who are allowed to divorce in certain circumstances. 5. Being Overweight Is Illegal in Japan Japan is the land that brought us ancient game sumo wrestling, but it is illegal to be fat there.

According to the “metabo law”, every men and women aged 40 and over must not have a waist measuring over than 32 inches and 36 inches respectively. For individuals, there is no penalty or punishment in law. It’s aimed at putting pressure on local governments and companies. 4. Don’t pay unless full – Denmark Denmark is a delightful country, but even more delightful when it comes to hospitality. In Danish restaurants, you don’t have to pay for your food unless, by your own opinion, you are ‘full’ at the end of your meal. If not, you can proceed without paying the bill at all. There is another craziest law in Denmark, it is illegal to start your car without first checking to see if there are any children sleeping under a car . 3. Don’t die in parliament, it’s the law It is just one of the craziest laws in Britain that has recently been removed from the rule book. The reason people are banned from dying in parliament is that the buildings count as a Royal Palace . Nigel Cawthorne, author of The Strange Laws of Old England, said: “Anyone who dies there is technically entitled to a state funeral.

If they see you looking a bit sick they carry you out quickly.” 2. A ban on marriages between first cousins in Utah In Utah you can marry your cousin, but only if you are both over the age of 65. Because, you know, when you turn 65 you’re known to have impeccable judgment. 1. Chewing gum is illegal in Singapore Have you ever thought chewing gum may land you in prison? Yes, It’s happen! Chewing gum is completely illegal in Singapore since 1992. There is a ban on importing chewing gum into Singapore. Under the rule, only nicotine gum is allowed, but even then someone can get it from a doctor with a prescription. No gum is allowed to be bought or sold inside Singapore and there is a $500 fine for spitting out gum on the streets. In Finland you have to pay 200 euros to voluntarily pick up litter. sublimeu In Japan it is legal that election campaign trucks with many loud-speakers go around the town for a month. There is no sound limits. Politicians and candidates can make loud speeches wherever they want. – station, street, shopping mall… But it is illegal that you complain of the noise.

You will soon be arrested for preventing political activity. Many kinds of mobile catering and the extreme right go very loudly with some loud-speakers. There are some regulations about the noise, but this is tacit understanding. Japan can’t stop them. BleuLorax The person who wrote this crap cannot spell, has no concept of punctuation, and is completely devoid of being able to use proper grammar. Stop writing shit to post on the Internet. Go back to third grade please. Dizzy M Dragovar The one in Denmark about not being full..or can’t start the car…are completely bogus.. hispanickid in mexico you can turn up the speakers as loud as you can and the police doesn’t mind day or night! Saudi Arabia travel advice - GOV.UK GOV.UK feed Local laws and customs Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country in which Islamic law is strictly enforced. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. It is forbidden to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours during the month of Ramadan. The law is strictly enforced.

In 2017, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to start on 27 May and finish on 25 June. See Travelling during Ramadan The public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal; as is an intention to convert others. However, the Saudi authorities accept the private practice of religions other than Islam, and you can bring a Bible into the country as long as it is for your personal use. Importing larger quantities than this can carry severe penalties. Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are strictly enforced. Women should wear conservative, loose-fitting clothes as well as a full length cloak (abaya) and a headscarf. Men should not wear shorts in public. It is illegal for women to drive. Homosexual acts and adultery are illegal and can be subject to severe sanctions. Penalties for the possession of, or trade in alcohol are severe. Both result in prison sentences. Do not arrive in Saudi Arabia under the influence of alcohol. If you bring medication with you, carry a doctor’s prescription. Importing pork products is forbidden. The possession of pornographic material, or of illustrations of scantily dressed people, especially women, is prohibited. Electronic devices may be screened by customs officials on arrival and departure.

The punishment for smuggling drugs includes the death penalty. Photographing government buildings, military installations, and palaces is not allowed. You should avoid photographing local people. It is illegal to hold two passports in Saudi Arabia. Second passports will be confiscated by the immigration authorities if they are discovered. You should carry a photocopy of your passport for identification. Make sure you have included emergency contact details. The Saudi legal system differs in many ways from the UK. Suspects can be held without charge and are not always allowed quick access to legal representation. The Saudi authorities have detained witnesses and victims of crimes. If you need consular assistance, British Embassy staff will try to visit you as soon as they are aware of the case, but in some instances Embassy staff have not been permitted to do so immediately or have had access limited. Anyone involved in a commercial dispute with a Saudi company or individual may be prevented from leaving the country pending resolution of the dispute. Government bodies often retain passports for official purposes; sponsors also sometimes retain passports, although this is illegal. Driving in Saudi Arabia | InterNations Not a member yet? Join now Driving in Saudi Arabia ?

Connect with fellow expats in Saudi Arabia Join exciting events and groups Get information in our Saudi Arabia guides Exchange tips about expat life in Saudi Arabia Join now Share Tweet +1 Driving in Saudi Arabia is thrilling for some and frustrating for others. Our InterNations guide introduces you to the basics of driving in Saudi Arabia and covers road infrastructure, safety concerns, purchasing a car and the notorious ban on women behind the wheel. Also in this article: Legal Requirements for Driving in Saudi Arabia Driving in Saudi Arabia can be an exhilarating experience. It can also be a terrifying one. This small country has a lot of cars: one car for every four people. It also has a passion for luxury cars and high speeds. The Kingdom attracts tourists because of its sand dune driving; however, day to day driving in Saudi Arabia is drastically different from cruising in an SUV in the desert. If you plan on driving in Saudi Arabia, be sure that you are well prepared. Road Infrastructure in Saudi Arabia There are 221,375 kilometers of well-built roadways in Saudi Arabia. The most important highway is Highway 40 which crosses the Arabian Desert and the entire country from the west coast to the east.

At 1,359 km it connects Jeddah and Mecca, passes through Riyadh, and continues to Dammam on the Persian Gulf. One reason that driving in Saudi Arabia is so common is that gas is cheap. In 2013 Saudi Arabia was ranked 59 out of 60 countries regarding the price of gas. Only Venezuela had cheaper gas. Therefore, if you are driving in Saudi Arabia gas prices are of minimal concern. Nonetheless, the Saudi government has the goal of further developing its use of alternative energy to fuel a third of its electricity within the next couple of decades. Women behind the Wheel? Saudi Arabia is known around the world as the only country where women are not allowed to drive. Like many issues in Saudi Arabia, the surrounding debates are complex and contradictory. Women are allowed to own cars but not drive them. Although women can be arrested for driving in Saudi Arabia, there is no formal law that actually makes it illegal. Therefore, this ban is based on a religious edict as opposed to a traffic law. However, there is hope that this will change in the not so distant future.

A Saudi activist group, Women2Drive, started a campaign in 2011 demanding for women to be allowed to drive. As of April 2013 women can now ride bicycles and motorbikes. This new rule stipulates that women can only do so as a recreational activity as opposed to a mode of transportation. Either way, it still sparks further hope for lifting the ban on driving cars. Yet for expat women who are used to driving, this is still a major obstacle. Women must rely on their male relatives – husbands, brothers, fathers and even sons – to drive them. Alternatively, they can hire a professional male driver. However, the Saudi government is actively decreasing the number of foreign workers – currently over eight million – by firing and deporting some in an effort to decrease the unemployment rate for national Saudis. This translates as a further obstacle for women wishing to hire an affordable and trust-worthy driver. It is also further incentive for the country to allow women to drive. Rules and Regulations When it comes to driving in Saudi Arabia, the usual rules apply, that is on paper. Drivers and passengers must wear seatbelts. It is illegal to speed and to use a cell phone while driving.

However, on the road things are quite different. Unfortunately, Saudis don’t take the rules of the road very seriously. Nonetheless, as an expat, you want to follow the rules as getting caught and thrown into jail is just not worth it. Remember that corporal punishment is business as usual in Saudi Arabia. So be sure to follow the rules when driving in Saudi Arabia even if the locals don’t. Saudis drive on the right hand side of the road. The speed limit for driving in Saudi Arabia is 45 km/h in urban areas and 80 – 120 km/h on motorways. In 2010 the government introduced an automated traffic control and management system, SAHER , which monitors speeding as well as other traffic violations. If SAHER catches you speeding they will text you a message to say that you’ve been fined. Fines increase as time goes by and they quickly become expensive.

Question: In what country is it illegal for women to drive?
Answer: Saudi Arabia