Wheels on fire

Women in Saudi Arabia are simply not allowed! And this includes not being allowed to drive. Driving their way to equality began in the 1990’s, and this form of protest has developed momentum in recent months. And as hundreds of undeterred women were prepared to go to prison or face fines, the authorities decided that they would try another form of punishment.

Ten lashes were ordered for Shaima Jastaina. There is nothing like a bit of physical violence to frighten. It has been reported that Shaima was spared this punishment. This is the country where Rania Al Baz, the television news presenter, very publicly and very bravely, came out after her husband beat her up, totally disfiguring her face. Al Baz’s bruised face became the iconic symbol of women’s courage in the face of male brutality and the brutality of state complicity. This is the country which in 2006 sent a rape victim to prison for being raped.

At a conference hosted by Amnesty International on ‘Saudi Arabia: A State of Secrecy’ held in London on 3 June 2000, in a session entitled “Women’s Rights”, one male Saudi professor of Sociology proclaimed that in his latest empirical study 75 per cent of women in Saudi Arabia said they did not want to drive cars. I asked what happened to the other 25 per cent. The professor replied "How would you know about women, you haven’t been to Saudi Arabia."

I told him "If you choose to bluff you must be prepared to have your bluff called. I have visited Saudi Arabia!" My visit in the early eighties was a shocking revelation of the forced invisibility of women from public places. When I was hungry I could buy no food from the street cafes. When I needed shelter from the sun there was no refuge, so I sat on the pavement in the heat. When I needed the bathroom there was none open for me and when I wanted to sit in the shopping centre a sign reminded me that women were not allowed to sit on seats in public places. Food and bathroom facilities were finally offered to me behind a curtain in the ‘family area’ of a hotel. And yes I was dressed in Saudi dress head to toe. This was Saudi Arabia. I am told that now, men and women can sit in cafes in public places so there must have been a sliver of progress.

King Abdullah said this month that Saudi women would be allowed to become full members of the government consultative (Shoura) council, and permitted to participate in the next municipal elections. He said “We refuse to marginalise the role of women in every aspect of Saudi society. ”If women are not allowed to drive to parliament they will need to be very rich to employ a male chauffeur, they will also need to be accompanied by a male guardian" - a father, brother, or son as the law dictates. Women commentators are obsequiously fawning and grovelling to the king.

Perhaps this is the only way to get a little further ahead. Huda Al-Ameel, president of Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh, is reported by Arabnews.com to have said that she was “not surprised by this decision as King Abdullah, ever since he ascended the throne, has been giving his full support and care for women.” Deputy education minister, Noura Al-Fayez, also reported in Arabnews.com said “The new assignments are an honour for Saudi women.” Do not be deceived ladies - these promises are platitudes in their political window dressing.

And this is the country that in February sent their troops and tanks into Bahrain turning on pro- democracy supporters, both men and women, and shooting them. Women - get into your cars in solidarity.