Ten Saudi women receive driving licences amid a crackdown against activists
Ahead of the end of Saudi Arabia’s ban on women driving on June 24, the government issues its first licences, even as it keeps activists under arrest
Saudi Arabia issued the first driving licences to 10 Saudi women on Monday as the kingdom prepares to lift the world’s only ban on women driving, but the surprise move came as a number of women who had campaigned for the right to drive remained under arrest and facing charges.
A government statement said the 10 women who were issued licences already held driving licences from other countries, including the US, Britain, Lebanon and Canada. They each took a brief driving test and eye exam before being issued the licences at the General Department of Traffic in the capital, Riyadh. International media were not present for the event.
Saudi Arabia plans to end its ban on women driving on June 24, and women across the country have been preparing by taking driving courses on female-only college campuses. Some are even training to become drivers for ride-hailing companies like Uber.
Saudi women had long complained of having to hire costly male drivers, use taxis or rely on male relatives to get to work and run errands.
The move to issue some women licences early comes as four Saudi women’s rights activists who had campaigned for the right to drive remain under arrest, facing possible trial. Saudi Arabia’s prosecutor said on Sunday that in all, 17 people had been detained in recent weeks on suspicion of trying to undermine security and stability, a case that activists said targeted prominent campaigners for women’s rights.