Saudi Arabian women do not have the right to drive a car
In
modern times there was a driving ban for women in Saudi Arabia. A group of
Saudi women's rights activists called on others in order to fight the ban on
women driving on June 17, 2013. One of the activists was Asmaa al-Ali. People
like Asmaa enliven the campaign on Facebook with the name Women2Drive. Campaign
for women's right to drive may be a bit contrary to the car culture of Arabia.
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| Women2Drive logo, a symbol of Saudi Arabian women demanding the right to drive a car. Image: nasional.news.viva.co.id |
Lot
of Saudi
women are choosing
to learn
to drive
abroad to get around the ban while undergoing further education, or living in
another country. Women are forbidden to drive in Saudi authorities
interpretation based on Islamic sharia. According to the interpretation of
scholars and government of Saudi Arabia women can not roam without a husband or
a man of the family of the woman who accompanied. Fatwa is then interpreted textually
that spread to all areas. Fatwa religion is often interpreted as a prohibition
for women drivers. Such fatwa also prevents women from opening bank accounts,
obtaining passports or even going to school without the presence of a male
guardian.
Meanwhile in other countries, Moslem women can comfortably drive a vehicle.
Saudi Arabia has a different interpretation of the Muslim populous countries
such as Malaysia. Ban on women driving is never enforced by the Taliban regime
in Afghanistan. After the Taliban ousted from power by foreign forces, emerging
driving school for women in Kabul. Saudi women's rights activist, a similar
change is rolling in their country.
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| Saudi Arabian women demanding the right to drive a car. Image: kesalahanquran.com |
Asmaa al-Ali et al want to fight to get women the right to drive for Saudi
Arabia, as it is enjoyed by women in other countries, including Muslim
countries. Since the last two months, Asmaa joined the campaign moves through
the internet. Manal al Sharif, has filed a lawsuit against the General
Directorate of Traffic in Riyadh, the capital of the country, so the officials
refused the application to obtain a driver's license.
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| Asmaa al-Ali, the hero. Image: sosok.kompasiana.com |
Asmaa al-Ali turns women who have long been fighting for his people allowed
to drive in Saudi there alone, with tragically killed after a car driven by his
partner had an accident in the province of Hael. He died on the spot while his
colleague is in critical condition.
Previous Manal Al-Sharif was detained for 10 days for reckless driving his
own car. Manal who is an expert on information technology when the 33-year-old
accused of "violating public order".
Al-Sharif and colleagues have been struggling through internet sites such
as Facebook to create a group called 'Teach me how to drive so I can protect
myself,'. Saudi women apparently still has a long way to be able to drive your
own car without having to rely on a man. Whether behind the deaths of these
women there was a conspiracy behind it or not, is clearly the pioneer has
passed away.
The people of Saudi Arabia have to learn about human rights that apply
universally across the world such as the freedom of choice of employment, to
free speech and democracy, and other rights for women. The women of Saudi
Arabia are also entitled to drive their own car without having to depend on
men. Women in Saudi Arabia also has the same rights with other Arab men. Male
domination of women are outdated. When all human beings want freedom and
democracy within the framework of human rights that are protected by the UN
Charter.
Are the demands of the women of Saudi Arabia are the gateway to the rise of
democracy in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East? Maybe we have
to wait a long time, wonders of democracy and freedom or equality between men
and women in the region.
