by Zach Waksman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s religious police arrested and detained five women for driving, which is prohibited by religious edict (fatwa) in the Islamic kingdom.  The events took place in Jeddah, a port city along the Red Sea. These arrests are among the first to be made since the Women2Drive campaign that encourages defiance of the fatwa began on June 17, when 42 women took to the streets.

Four of the arrested parties were young women, ages 21 and 22, using a single car.  They were found in the Dorat al Arous neighborhood of Jeddah, where they were arrested by local religious police.  They were taken to a police station, where they signed a pledge never to get behind the wheel again.  They were then released.  The actions taken are similar to what happened to Manal Al-Sharif, who was arrested on May 17 and also forced to sign a promise not to drive again.

The fifth was driving were her brother in the Sulaimania district.  Local residents reported the incident to the police, noting that she was also not wearing a veil.  According to the Saudi news website Sabq.org, “The two were surrounded by four police patrols who asked for their identities then took them to a police station, where they were interrogated.”  As of June 29, they were in custody of police in Jamia, where an investigation was underway.

Saudi Arabia has a male guardianship system, meaning that women must obtain permission to go to work, get an education, marry, leave the country, or have a medical operation. According to the fatwa, women must be driven by a male chauffeur or relative.  Hiring a full-time chauffeur is expensive, costing approximately $600 per month plus expenses for their coming to and remaining in the conservative kingdom.

Eman al-Nafjan, a Saudi women’s rights activist who is a member of Saudi Women for Driving, called referred to the arrests as “…the first big pushback from authorities, it seems.  We aren’t sure what it means at this point and whither this is the start of a harder line by the government against the campaign.”

To some women, however, the pushback started before the activism even began.  Many who supported the Women2Drive initiative said their husbands or male relatives prevented them from taking part.  One housewife referred to as Mana (name changed) said she could not risk driving because her family did not support her.  “I could not take my husband’s car because he expressed real fears and apprehension,” she explained.  “He assumed I might get arrested or get into trouble like Manal Al-Sharif, so I could not pursue the idea.”  Part of this, she believed, was the general belief among women that they must be submissive to their husbands, which interfered with any effort to protest.  Another supporter who did not participate in the June 17 protest, Hawazen Nassief, a self-described “outspoken Saudi female activist,” felt there was too little to gain from driving.

The situation has drawn attention abroad.  Saudi Women for Driving says its campaign draws inspiration by the recent uprisings in other Arab countries and has requested backing from the West.  On Wednesday, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised the group’s efforts, calling their actions brave.  “They’re right to raise their concerns with their own government,” she said.  Despite this, she said the U.S. would not take part.

Within the country, the discussion continues on whether, and if so, how to begin the process of allowing women drivers onto the roads.  Much of the concern stems from safety issues, be it the safety of the women or the roads themselves.  “The roads are a mess and there is construction work and uneven ground.  With the atrocious traffic management system, you want women out there too?  I did not allow my wife or daughter to drive,” said Salman Abadi, a Jeddah-based sales manager.

When asked the same question, marketing assistant Saad Hamri said, “Not yet.”  In his opinion, too many variables existed, including whether women knew how to drive.  Nassief believed that the issued should be handled gradually by working with the government.  She noted that King Abdullah said that his government would not oppose women driving if society was ready to accept it.  Therefore, she believed that the government should start acting to help prepare the country for women drivers with a series of programs designed to introduce them to the road.

In the meantime, al-Nafjan remained confident in the movement’s success despite the recent crackdown.  “This will not scare us,” she said.

For more information, please see:

ArabNews.com — Jeddah woman detained for violating driving ban — 29 June 2011

Arab Times — Saudi arrests five women for driving : reports Police tipped-off by residents — 29 June 2011

CNN — Saudi women arrested for driving — 29 June 2011

New York Times — Saudi religious police detained 5 women for driving, group reports — 29 June 2011

ArabNews.com — ‘Man’ipulation continues to stall Women2Drive campaign — 28 June 2011

Asharq Alawsat — No to women driving! — 28 June 2011

ArabNews.com — Let govt prepare society to accept driving by women — 27 June 2011

Impunity Watch — Saudi women protest driving ban by hitting the road — 19 June 2011

New York Times — In a scattered protest, Saudi women take the wheel — 17 June 2011