Saudi woman to receive 10 lashes for driving

[Seether]

Source

CAIRO (AP) — A Saudi woman was sentenced Tuesday to be lashed 10 times with a whip for defying the kingdom's prohibition on female drivers, the first time a legal punishment has been handed down for a violation of the longtime ban in the ultraconservative Muslim nation.

Normally, police just stop female drivers, question them and let them go after they sign a pledge not to drive again. But dozens of women have continued to take to the roads since June in a campaign to break the taboo.

Making Tuesday's sentence all the more upsetting to activists is that it came just two days after King Abdullah promised to protect women's rights and decreed that women would be allowed to participate in municipal elections in 2015. Abdullah also promised to appoint women to a currently all-male advisory body known as the Shura Council.

What I found interesting was the coincidence between this unprecidented punishment and the recent announcement by the King. Is this a sign of discourse between the "progressive" King and the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia? Should such a punishment be given to this woman when, as it says later in the article, "How come women get flogged for driving while the maximum penalty for a traffic violation is a fine, not lashes?". Thoughts?

[Exarch]

i dont get it; saudis women are allowed to vote now but can't drive?:hmmm:

[Lazzeer]

i dont get it; saudis women are allowed to vote now but can't drive?:hmmm:

Well they can't vote, not until the 2015 municipal elections at least. All this goes to show is that radical reform is not really on the Saudi agenda.

[Exarch]

Well they can't vote, not until the 2015 municipal elections at least. All this goes to show is that radical reform is not really on the Saudi agenda.

curious, where would a saudi woman need to go via driving without a male relative to chaperone her? probably to the strip club to do some more sinning. it is a good thing she was caught, those lashings will pave the way to her redemption and save her soul from the fires of lower heck

[Lazzeer]

curious, where would a saudi woman need to go via driving without a male relative to chaperone her? probably to the strip club to do some more sinning. it is a good thing she was caught, those lashings will pave the way to her redemption and save her soul from the fires of lower heck

Exactly, if anything the state is saving them from themselfs, or at the very least saving the other drivers from the intolerable evil of female driving - I mean I've seen my girlfriend drive....

/sarcasm - the change to the Saudi law is not really for the domestic audience, I mean it is to an extent - it's an attempt to pacify the female demonstrators (who have been the most active in Saudi Arabia as of late) while at the same time trying to regain their position with the rest of the Arab world (and try and stave off Turkey & Iran.)

[Veliky Kaiser Theos]

Saudi Arabia is still in the 19th century with it's human rights. This shouldn't shock anyone.

[Exarch]

@lazeer
saudi arabia has been interesting lately, they've been doing a lot to make themselves a world leader in the islamic world, from that massive arms procurement from america to construction of that massive minaret/tower in saudi arabia. though, how are they going to get tourists into saudi arabia like in dubai if they dont offer tourist visas and bar entrance to mecca to non muslims?

[Blaze86420]

how are they going to get tourists into saudi arabia like in dubai if they dont offer tourist visas and bar entrance to mecca to non muslims?

Mecca is not much of a tourist destination unless you count the Hajj as tourism. You're looking at Jiddah and Riyad for tourism.

[Sphere]

Backwards state is backwards.

[Armenum]

Well given the coverings that the women of Saudi Arabia wear, I see how them driving may be unsafe.

[Prosaic Visitant]

Source



What I found interesting was the coincidence between this unprecidented punishment and the recent announcement by the King. Is this a sign of discourse between the "progressive" King and the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia? Should such a punishment be given to this woman when, as it says later in the article, "How come women get flogged for driving while the maximum penalty for a traffic violation is a fine, not lashes?". Thoughts?

Yes, this here is proof of two things, two things noone really disputes though.

1) Saudi Arabia's leadership is obviously not interested in furthering civil rights for any non-male, non- Sunnis. The voting rights was a gimmick and a piece of symbolism.
2) SA has a long way to go on the road of civil rights.

Well given the coverings that the women of Saudi Arabia wear, I see how them driving may be unsafe.

See people, Saudi Arabia is a benevolent and female friendly society.

Indeed you are right though, however this whole thing could be alleviated by removing draconian dress codes.

[Manuel I Komnenos]

She couldn't wait to vote thus, she made the unspeakable mistake. Drove to vote.

[Sphere]

I hope the irony in allowing people to vote in an absolute monarchy isn't lost on everyone.

[Prosaic Visitant]

I hope the irony in allowing people to vote in an absolute monarchy isn't lost on everyone.

It's one of those things that goes without saying.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Still sums up the country after all these years:

[Oklop]

If it is her first offense maybe she can get away with 5 - 7 lashes.

[Sadreddine]

Don't know if to laugh or cry. Poor women, I hope this punishment don't stop them from achieving their goals.

[boofhead]

10 lashes doesn't sound too bad when delivered through a burka.

[Sadreddine]

Surely you meant niqab. Your criticism is becoming less rigorous!

[Ahlerich]

the source does not explain how the woman was driving. therefore there is no way to determine if she deserved the lashes or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wT7zM8XgXQ