RIYADH — Dr. Lateefa Al-Shaalan made an emotional appeal in the Shoura Council, calling on the 150-member consultative body to unconditionally back the women's right to drive on the Kingdom's roads. She strongly defended the women's right to drive and told those oppose her that their argument is based on a "crooked logic". "They project Saudi men as monsters who are bent on attacking women drivers," she said. Al-Shaalan urged the speaker of the house to press the Saudi leadership to issue a sovereign decision allowing women to drive on the Kingdom's roads, which is their "inherent right." Addressing the council last Monday, she said the participation of women in the Shoura Council and municipal councils reflects the fact that Saudi society is prepared to allow women into areas hitherto dominated by men, including driving. Al-Shaalan said the driving ban has harmed women's interests tremendously. "The Kingdom's Basic Law of Governance guarantees equality and protection of rights. The driving ban is the main reason for about 70 percent of unemployment among women. It has reduced women's participation in the labor market to 10 percent," she pointed out. Saudi male and female activists and intellectuals have been calling upon the supreme authorities to allow women-driving to protect their rights and uphold the Kingdom's reputation internationally. In a recent article Saudi columnist Shafi Al-Wasaan urged authorities to lift the ban on women driving. "In my opinion this is a simple issue and the ban should not continue, tarnishing the Kingdom's global reputation as a fast-developing country."
