A woman who tried to drive in defiance of a ban on women
drivers in Saudi Arabia has been arrested after being blocked at the border
with the United Arab Emirates for a day, activists said along with many users
on social media. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world which does not
allow women to drive.
drivers in Saudi Arabia has been arrested after being blocked at the border
with the United Arab Emirates for a day, activists said along with many users
on social media. Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world which does not
allow women to drive.
“I have been at the Saudi border for 24 hours. They
don’t want to give me my passport nor will they let me pass,” Loujain
Hathloul, the arrested woman said in a tweet. Continue below…
don’t want to give me my passport nor will they let me pass,” Loujain
Hathloul, the arrested woman said in a tweet. Continue below…
Activists said she was arrested on Monday afternoon, but the
interior ministry could not immediately comment on her case.
interior ministry could not immediately comment on her case.
Another woman, UAE-based Saudi journalist Maysaa Alamoudi,
who went to support her, was also arrested, an activist told the AFP news
agency.
who went to support her, was also arrested, an activist told the AFP news
agency.
“They transferred her and Maysaa… to the bureau of
investigation” at a Saudi police station, said the activist who asked for
anonymity.
investigation” at a Saudi police station, said the activist who asked for
anonymity.
Both women’s phones rang unanswered. Border officers blocked
Hathloul because she was driving, activists said.
Hathloul because she was driving, activists said.
She said her driving licence “is valid in all GCC
countries”, a reference to the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council which
includes Saudi Arabia.
countries”, a reference to the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council which
includes Saudi Arabia.
Hathloul also posted details about her long confinement in
her car.
her car.
Social media reaction
Once her tweets stopped, users and activists took to Twitter
to express worry and gather information.
to express worry and gather information.
Meanwhile Al al-Ahmed, a Saudi Arabia analyst, tweeted that
he had confirmation that Hathloul’s arrest had been ordered.
he had confirmation that Hathloul’s arrest had been ordered.
Another Saudi writer and activist, Hala Al-Dosari tweeted
that the two women had been transferred to the general bureau of interrogation.
that the two women had been transferred to the general bureau of interrogation.
The other activist who spoke to AFP said Hathloul was trying
to make a point in her unusual attempt to drive through the border.
to make a point in her unusual attempt to drive through the border.
“She knew that they wouldn’t let her pass,” the
activist said.
activist said.
During October dozens of women drove in Saudi Arabia and
posted images of themselves doing so as part of an online campaign supporting
the right to drive.
posted images of themselves doing so as part of an online campaign supporting
the right to drive.
In response, the interior ministry said it would
“strictly implement” measures against anyone undermining “the
social cohesion”.
“strictly implement” measures against anyone undermining “the
social cohesion”.
Women drivers have previously been arrested and cars have
been confiscated, activists say.
been confiscated, activists say.
Source: Al Jazeera
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