Women allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia

When I was in Bangladesh I was taken to the women's security area at the airport apparently to be searched. Inside it one lady in a smart uniform was lying on a couch, another was sitting on a stool eating a bowl of something and the other just admired my necklace! I think we all relished fooling the men. I wonder if there's a sort of cynical women's way of getting round the gender rules in Saudi? I do hope so.

As Susie Boniface said on Sky press preview the other evening, given that women still have to be accompanied by a male relative if they go anywhere, it's hardly freedom is it. She said, if they are on their own, they can drive "round the block" and then go home again, which isn't great is it.

That's not to take away from the women who put themselves at considerable risk to campaign for this - but, of course, most of them appear to be in prison now. It's a step in the right direction but I agree that it is not really a time for rejoicing.

Whatever her personal opinion, people like Camilla do not have the 'luxury' of being able to indignantly refuse such a gift, which would in itself be a gross insult in many cultures.

As for the diamonds, I wouldn't mind betting she's not remotely bothered - probably has more than enough jewellery already.

The brand of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia has traditionally been ultra-conservative. The current ruler is trying to modernise - until recently there were not even any cinemas, which were seen as un-Islamic. But if he tries to do too much too soon, there could well be an ultra-conservative backlash - would anyone prefer to see an ISIS type regime there instead?

Even the term 'Women allowed to...' sets my teeth on edge. Allowed? Allowed?? Are women some sort of criminal or animal or child, permitted to do and have things according to their behaviour?

maryeliza I didn't know that about Camilla. Why would you accept anything from them. And why do diamonds mean so much anyway? I hope she donated them to a good cause. This country is a disgrace as are all the countries that tolerate and support this kind of regime. I too thought it was not a reason for jubilation. The women should not even have acknowledged it publicly..

We lived in the Middle East for a long time, and many of dh's colleagues moved to SA for work. Because of the status of women, though, we would never have made that move as a family, though dh has sometimes visited on his own for work.

Where we lived, mostly Oman, I always had my own car and it was immeasurably more tolerant.

A friend of mine who worked as a single, already middle aged woman in SA, was unable to visit a male friend in his flat simply to return a book, since the religious police - who were often on the prowl - would deem it immoral and therefore forbidden, and she would be in a lot of trouble.

However the reason we are still 'in bed' with the Saudis is presumably because the alternative - e.g. probably an even more extremist ISIS type regime - would be a lot worse. The devil you know, and all that....

Agree the Saudi regime is corrupt through and through, and we happily get into bed with it ?

But this is progress - of a sort.

When I posted this thread I did not realise how bad things really were in Saudi. Thank you for enlightening me.

We are very lucky to have the freedom these women have to fight for on a daily basis.

I must admit I didn't take kindly to literally taking a back seat in the car when on a business visit to Saudi many years ago. Neither was I allowed to swim in the pool? Everyone was very polite and kind to me but rules were definitely upheld! The worst bit was at the airport where women were separated from men to be searched. The woman I had spoke no English and just grabbed me to take off my coat and jacket. And to my horror the guy at Customs searched my bag and made a joke about my talcum powder in Arabic - I thought he was thinking I was smuggling in drugs and was petrified. He obviously saw my face and became very reassuring! Phew! Food was good though

Not as good or straightforward as it seems..there will be many rules and complications!!!!!

Saudi Arabia has appalling human rights especially for women. Even with this driving concession women must only park in women only sections so they still can't go everywhere they want. I would never visit such a country that still treats women like dirt

And another thing for gilly and the very small band of republicans on here, Camilla has been given millions of pounds of jewellery from the Saudi RF.

No euphoria from me - just absolutely furious at the positive spin this is being given - the last country in the world to allow women to drive - a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. And the women in prison are some of the leaders of the movement to gain this crumb from a dictators table and they are being labelled terroists. One interpretation put forward is that the ‘king’ wants this concession to be seen as something he graciously gave and not one that was fought for as that will send the wrong message. When I think of this country and how it treats its women, how no dissent is allowed, how torture and the death penalty is widespread,the evil they are committing in Yemen, and how the UK is complicit in this, I feel sick. Don’t be misled into thinking anything that matters has changed in this wicked country.