[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15079620

A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a woman to 10 lashes for breaking the country's ban on female drivers.

The woman, identified only as Shema, was found guilty of driving in Jeddah in July.

Women2drive, which campaigns for women to be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, says she has already lodged an appeal.

In recent months, scores of women have driven vehicles in Saudi cities in an effort to put pressure on the monarchy to change the law.

The sentence comes two days after the Saudi leader King Abdullah announced women would be allowed to vote for the first time in 2015.

Two other women are due to appear in court later this year on similar charges, correspondents say.

Barbaric .....

[Smithy]

Tsk, women drivers

[Tom]

Women can't drive anyway, legally or not

my girlfriend drove into a barrier once because she was driving in stop/start traffic whilst doing her makeup because she was due into work. her heel snapped on her shoe and she was more concerned about that than the headlight she'd just knocked out or the insurance premium that was about to go up my mum is just as bad, she doesn't indicate that much and it really winds me up

don't get me started on womens parking

[Livia]

Statistically women are safer on the road and take fewer risks. I've never had a ticket nor an accident, not in a car, and not on the motorbikes I rode before I learned to drive a car. You can't say all women are bad drivers because you know a couple who are pretty bad.

As for the Saudis giving a woman ten lashes for driving... they're living in the freakin' dark ages.

[Niamh.]

Exactly Livia. I know bad women drivers..........I also know bad men drivers........shock horror.......people are different I bet my life you wouldn't be able to reverse up the hill I have to everyday Tom!

[Tom]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Exactly Livia. I know bad women drivers..........I also know bad men drivers........shock horror.......people are different I bet my life you wouldn't be able to reverse up the hill I have to everyday Tom!

Why do you reverse UP a hill? Bet its an automatic

and it was a jooooooooooooooke, no need to go all Womens Institute on me, i know some women can drive, my mates mum is an amazing driver, shes got a massive car but can get it into literally any space in one go

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Tom

Why do you reverse UP a hill? Bet its an automatic

Because its easier to do that than perform a turn in the road using forward and reverse gears.


Big breaths or something like that???

[InOne]

On a positive note, women may be getting the vote in Saudi by 2015

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Shasown

Because its easier to do that than perform a turn in the road using forward and reverse gears.


Big breaths or something like that???

There's only one place to turn at the end of the hill and there's usually another car parked there, smart arse

And I prefer to reverse up the hill rather than down it Tom

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

There's only one place to turn at the end of the hill and there's usually another car parked there, smart arse

And I prefer to reverse up the hill rather than down it Tom

Yeah it is, am glad you notice how tight and firm it is. Am rather proud of it.

Not bad for an old man eh?

[Omah]

Originally Posted by InOne

On a positive note, women may be getting the vote in Saudi by 2015

Not "getting the vote" as we know it :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15052030

Women in Saudi Arabia are to be given the right to vote and run in future municipal elections, King Abdullah has announced.

He said they would also have the right to be appointed to the consultative Shura Council.

About 10 years ago the king said women should be central to the Saudi economy. Since then, change has been gradual for fear of a religious backlash.

Now, allowing women to stand and vote in municipal elections is a big step towards political reform, even though the municipal councils have very little power.

The right for women to join the all- male Shura Council could turn out to be even more significant as it is the most influential political body in the country.

Municipal elections are the only public polls in Saudi Arabia.

More than 5,000 men will compete in municipal elections on Thursday - the second-ever in the kingdom - to fill half the seats in local councils. The other half are appointed by the government.

The next municipal elections are due in four years' time.

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15102190

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has overturned a court ruling sentencing a woman to 10 lashes for breaking a ban on female drivers, reports say.

The ruling, although not officially confirmed, was tweeted by a Saudi princess and reported by AP news agency citing an unnamed official.

The woman, named as Shema, was found guilty of driving in Jeddah in July.

The sentence came two days after the king announced women would be allowed to vote for the first time in 2015.

"Thank God, the lashing of Shema is cancelled. Thanks to our beloved king," tweeted Princess Amira al-Taweel, wife of Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

"I am sure all Saudi women will be so happy."

Two other women are due to appear in court later this year on similar charges, reports say.

In recent months, scores of women have driven vehicles in Saudi cities to put pressure on the monarchy.

The Saudi interpretation of Islamic law includes the guardianship system under which women need permission from a male relative to participate in public life.

One small step .....

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Shasown

Yeah it is, am glad you notice how tight and firm it is. Am rather proud of it.

Not bad for an old man eh?