Driving cars.

 

The hesitation in allowing women to drive is getting a problem in the Saudi society. People cannot just lift the ban because the longer they wait the harder it will get to change it.

"There no text in Koran that prohibits driving the cars, "said Dr. Saud Al Mesabeh, the manager for relationship and directing for the interior ministry. "It is not sinful to drive the cars there are lot of Muslims women outside the kingdom that drive the cars. So, the issue is about how the society will react to it, that's what really matters,"

 

The Saudi society is changing rapidly, and the necessities of life are getting more. Women want to share in building the new generation they want to play greater role than they used to do for the past twenty years.

 

 Nine Saudi women became soldiers in Dammam's prison. They were trained to deal with prisoners and to take them to the courts. These soldiers have the same as men.

  

"We need qualified women to work for policewomen. We need them to control what happens in the fields that needs their presence such as the markets, halls for weddings or when we catch criminals or drugs sellers," Dr. Al Sebahi said.

 

Dr.Al Sebahi suggests that a group of educators and scholars can discuss the matter of driving cars for women then they will come out of rules and limitations which can be applied and give women a chance to move freely following the Islamic rules for Hijab. He believes that strict rules can make it work so easily.

 

"I don't think that we should have policewomen for traffic because in other countries, where women drive cars, most of the police are men, whenever women break the rules, they get the same punishment as men," he added.

 

Saudi men share their points of views and give solutions for driving cars in the kingdom. "We could allow women to drive gradually," Dr. Mahmoud Khan said a Saudi citizen about driving cars.

"In other countries, in Emirates, Bahrain and Syria women drive cars. We must take extra security measures and harsher punishment for harassers, like recording numbers for their cars and inform about their actions to the police in concern and they must be punished for that," Dr. Khan said.

Rules and limitation could make a healthy environment for women to drive. He suggests that we should plan and prepare. We could go gradually, allowing women over thirty to drive first, and then schedule other age groups. If they get in trouble, they could use their cell phones in case of breakdowns.

"We could also limit the time for women to drive. They may drive during daytime. Women should not drive unless they are at the age of 25-30 not less.

They should not drive between cities and they be given full information about the roads and their danger," Dr Khan said.

"We must educate the public before we let our wives and girls drive cars," said Abdallah al Gamdi, a husband and a father for three girls in their teens.

 

AlGamdi suggests that the media should work to change the attitude some men have toward women in this country. He thinks that the police play a great role. He believes that well trained police officers will help to set the disciple in the first few months of allowing women drive cars.

  

"I do not oppose women driving cars but there are social principles one cannot ignore for there are many Saudi families that do not allow their daughters to drive cars alone or even with their friends. This issue needs time and patience," he added.

 

In the Saudi society many wives, sisters and girls are looking for the day, they will allow to drive.

Lamia Akeel a working woman finds driving a must for her life." I want to drive a car. Instead of depending on drivers. They do not know how to drive. They come from their countries knowing nothing about driving. It takes months to teach them the roads and the streets after that they leave back home, and I have to get another one and suffer again." she said.

It is quite a dilemma and confusion situation in the Saudi society, to insist on preventing women from driving and at the same time warn them not to ride with strangers, leave women with no options, especially when there is no dependable public transport.

Akeel thinks that she and many in the Saudi society have emergency cases for which they need to drive cars to save the situation.

"I have a handicapped sister and my father is an old man. I may be in need to go the hospital at any time why should I wait for the driver if I already have an international license," Akeel said.

Sheikh Ayed Al-Qarni, a prominent Saudi Islamic scholar, said. “If a woman is given the choice between driving a car herself or being alone in a car with a stranger, then I would choose that she drives herself,” he added. The scholar, however, does not want to give the impression that he necessarily believes that women should drive. “I personally will not allow my wife or daughters or sisters to drive. But I tell my brothers to keep the matter open for debate by a responsible scientific body,” he said. “We have to address all issues, including women driving, in a wise and rational manner,” he added.

"I want to drive a car; I am capable of that and I don't want to depend on anybody to do my business," said with enthusiasm Ejlal Al Shenawi, a Saudi 21 years old girl studying at the college,

" I have no one to pick me to my college, my brother says no all the time. I am not asking for much. I just need to go to a bookstore, a supermarket. Sometimes to get necessity for daily life, or to breathe fresh air away from all the problems," she said in despair.

 

Miss Al Shenawi believes that it is her simple right to be responsible about herself and she thinks that she will never disappoint her family if the society gives her trust and dependence.

 "Driving in Saudi Arabia, no way, I don't want to that." Said Ammal Al Sebai, a 21- years old, studying English literature.

 "Although, it's my dream to ride a Jeep, move around, go here and there. However, I still think that we need to change our thoughts first; we must change our insight before we take a step and look forward for driving cars. I could just imagine a car full of teenage Saudi boys hitting a woman’s car just for flirting purposes and this would make me personally more hesitant about driving in this country." Ammal remarked.  

Ammal believes that the Saudi society is a great need for changing their concepts and beliefs about the way they deal with boys and girls. Youth must respect women for what they think not what they look like. They rather deal with them like their own relatives not just a female who can be easily accepting any temptation from anyone.

 "Another thing that needs to change is the attitude some men have toward women in this country. This can only change when men begin to see women as having a more independent role in society. But women can’t drive until this attitude is curbed.' Ammal said.

"I don't blame boys only. Girls share the responsibility in making boys follow them, the way they dress and behave. They should remain conservative if they want to get respect," she added.

Dalia Al Gari Said, a -19- year Saudi girl studying health administration." I learnt how to drive cars. However, I want to get a chance to drive freely in the streets. I want to go to my work in my car."

"I wonder what happens if women drive cars. I guess they will put bears or heart shapes at the back of their cars. One will find pink colors dominating the streets. Lines of young boys will be rows to fill their cars with fuel if there is a woman there, they are ready to pay for her fuel, too. This will take time but at last we will take on the responsibility," she laughed.