King Abdullah saves Saudi woman from sentence of 10 lashes for driving

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By Tim Beissmann | September 29th, 2011

The King of Saudi Arabia has spared a woman who was sentenced to be whipped 10 times after she was caught driving in the ultra-conservative kingdom.

Shaima Jastaina, a Saudi citizen in her 30s, was set to become the first woman legally punished for driving after a court in Jeddah ruled against her on Monday.

But King Abdullah has today revoked the sentence, saving Shaima from the lashings that were to be dealt next month.

The news broke this afternoon as Princess Amira Al Taweel, the wife of Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, tweeted:

“Thank God, the lashing of Sheima is cancelled. Thanks to our beloved King. I’m sure all Saudi women will be so happy, I know I am.”

Saudi Arabia is the only nation in the world where women are banned from driving. Police usually stop female drivers and force them to sign a pledge that they will never drive again before letting them leave.

Officially, there is no written law banning Saudi women from driving. It is a part of the nation’s longstanding tradition and conservative Muslim beliefs, which suggest giving women the freedom of movement makes them susceptible to sin.

As a result, women are forced to hire a driver or rely on a male family member to drive them wherever they need to go.

Saudi women have been revolting against the restrictions this year, with a number of Facebook pages supporting the movement to improve the rights of women.

Manal al-Sherif, the founder of the most prominent group, Saudi Women to Drive, made headlines in June when she posted a video of herself driving on Facebook and YouTube. She was later detained for around two weeks, and only released after pledging never to speak to the media or drive again.

The punishment of lashings for Shaima came at an interesting time in Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah promised just two days earlier to give women the right to vote in municipal elections in 2015, and insisted he was committed to protecting the rights of women.

Generally, King Abdullah has little control over the sentencing process, which is run by the rigid Saudi religious institution. Many critics saw the punishment as retaliation to the King’s progressive views on women’s rights.

But it appears times may be changing with today’s overruling by the King.

F1MotoGP

Banning woman from driving and we support this country….but we the oil so it is OK. US wont say anything!!

Jacob

I wonder if anyone, male or female, is allowed to drive in North Korea…

kejovi

this is sick, the men in this country really need to have a long look at themselves. “susceptible to sin” what disgusting stupidity.
Sumpguard

Slavery is obviously still thriving !
Dan

But the main question is, how did she manage to fit a car in the kitchen?

Richard

hahahah Funniest thing I’ve heard all day:-)
AndyGF

But the real question is… How do you look at yourself in the mirror after posting that garbage.

With an attitude like that im sure you are VERY lonely, sad little man!

Tom R

Haha relax dude, it was just a joke.

AndyGF

People are not qualified to ‘joke’ about things like freedom, personal liberties and womens abuse when they are born & live in a country where such freedoms are implied.

Many people wont like what I have to say here but it IMHO is the truth; The Caucasians races have spread so far throughout the world that most of us have essentially become a homeless race, everyone of our great great grandparents was not from where we all are now. What makes our kind endure is our ability to accept people with difference and treat others as equals, this trait was born of our own and our forefathers strength of character.

This strength of character is something dearly lacking from all these ‘jokers’ who benefit everyday from a world they did NOTHING to earn, and would undermine YOUR and MY way of life given half the chance. Is that really what you want?

Neo

Andy your life if your life its not mine and if i want to make a joke i will do so. its ment to be taken in jest with a grain of salt. so remove your stick. BTW i think white BMW would look nice in the Kitchen
Grr

Harden The F*** Up mate – its called a joke! Go back to your dungeon if you cant see the humour in things!!!
Dan

LOL!! AndyGF clearly has no sense of humour!.. Lighten up man! You’ll find you will be a lot happier person and less stressed out when you introduce a bit of joke and humour in your life. In fact, the world would be a lot happier and peaceful place if people weren’t so serious all the time.

Ok, enough typing, I shall go ask my missus to make me a sandwich…
AndyGF

Happiness never entered my mind when I read what you little children wrote, I am disgusted…

Laughing at women getting whipped for something your parents do for you all the time, you should be ashamed of yourselves!

o

Not going to get into a big debate, but its so interesting how everyone protests against israel over palestine but not SA for there womans rights.

Tomas79

Noteveryone, jest leftard socilist greens… Which are the minority…

Planned_Obsolescence

Another well thought out & constructed comment from Tommy

Fazzoola

it is sad to see a once progressive culture that gave us such things as our numbering system, algebra, that made great strides in astronomy and medicine and saved so much ancient knowledge… reduced to this.

UniversityOfGoogle

When was Saudi Arabi ever a progressive culture?

Purlease, enough self crediting. No wonder they are so backwards, don’t even learn to Google some facts before posting them as proclaimed truth.

Hindu Arabic numeral system were developed by Indian mathematicians and adopted by Persian mathematicians who spread them to Europe by the Middle Ages.

Algebra was invented by the Babylonians (present day Iraq).

And as far as Google says, Saudi Arabia has made no real stride in any of the fields you mention. Medicine? You mean their magical cures for all the lashings and stoning they subject their citizens to.

http://www.facebook.com/peter.zaharis Peter Zaharis

I believe this was more referncing Arabic Muslim culture that specifically Saudi.
And Arabic Muslim culture has given us a lot in terms of science and maths etc. Downloading a documentary on it at the moment actually which I can’t wait to watch.
They were also quite progressive at one time with an accpetance of other religions that is hard to meet even today in some “western” cultures.
A lot of people now just automatically match Muslim with intolerance, mysogny and extremism. And that is just not the case if you look at their history, the teachings of Islam and the beliefs of a lot of Muslims.

UniversityOfGoogle

I don’t doubt what you’ve said at all, in fact I agree whole heartedly.

However credit should be given where its due, national achievements and milestones are not continental. As far as this article is concerned, it is relating to Saudi Arabia, and the poster Fazoola is referring to Saudi Arabia.

Likewise, we don’t credit China for Japan’s achievements/contributions just because they are both Asian nations.

Larry

All the achievements were made long before they have adopted the Quran or hadith word for word. If the religion-based state is wonderful, why zero achievement in the last few hundred years? lets not credit where the credit is NOT due. All the inventions of algebra or others was at time when Islam was not so well enforced and subjugation of women. FYI Babylonian or Sommarians were not Moslims. The only connection of today’s moslim nation is were living in the area where once stood men and made the invention. I suppose the Pyrmids can also be credit it to Moslims which we all know is not. Farrohs were not moslims.
http://www.facebook.com/peter.zaharis Peter Zaharis

True enough. However, in the article it mentions how the ban on driving is because of the “nation’s longstanding tradition and conservative Muslim beliefs”.
And I think the point that is being made is that Muslim culture has given us a lot and that for people to only think of it as an extremist / fundamentalist belief system are incorrect.

Also Larry any argument made by someone who can not even spell Muslim, especially when it is spelt correctly in the article and in the comment you are responding too, is automatically null and void.
Please either stop trolling or go away and do your research before you start spouting your uneducated and bigoted point of view.
UniversityOfWikipedia

“A Muslim, (Arabic: مسلم‎) also spelled Moslem,[1] is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Qur’an, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. “Muslim” is the Arabic term for “one who submits to God”.”

L2wiki

Mr Gaspo

Good on you King Abdullah
flash

The whole Arab world is changing for the better, finally these people will have options and a brighter future that they deserve.

Cedar

How can they be changing for the better when this decision should not have been handed down in the first place. Saudi Arabia have gone backwards by twenty years for allowing this in the first place. Progress will only be achieved when the law allows women to drive legally in the country.

Faisooz

” It is a part of the nation’s longstanding tradition and conservative Muslim beliefs, which suggest giving women the freedom of movement makes them susceptible to sin.”
With all my respect to the writer of this article , but banning women from driving has got nothing to do with muslim beliefs as women can drive cars in all other muslim countries.
this ban is based upon the view of some radicals who are governing Saudia Arabia , we wish for the day when those can no more impose limitations on people’s freedom

Shak

Couldn’t agree more. This has very little base in actual religious teachings. Its just some stupid old men sitting in a room trying to keep what they perceive as “power”, thankfully the King is a bit more progressive and things look set to change finally!

UMWHAT

we should have the same law in Australia

Mad Max

You really are a fool. What we SHOULD have is laws proventing idiots like you fromleaving the house. But then that would be inhumane treatment of your parents.

Pump

Saudi is becoming westernised…Bad for the country!
save it for the track

Do they have a licensing system in Saudi Arabia? Stopped by Police and made to sign a pledge etc…. ? How do the women that are caught learn to drive?

DLR1

Good question.
AndrewF

Rich Saudis spend most of their time in Europe or USA, that’s how (and why) they learn to drive.

J

Are they allowed to get their driving licences?

Mad Max

In western countries yes they are. In most instances they go to University in the UK, USA and now even in Australia and take the license test etc. They experiance freedon and then go home and face this sort of crap which to me is almost a form of slavery. In Saudi they are not allowed to have a license, only men can. Some of the more progressive (younger) men allow them to drive but only after dark.

Shak

Are you trying to be racist or is that just how classy you are?

UMWHAT

well it was more like a friendly nudge. are you on your period? cant we even joke around anymore

also, racist!??

Sambo

yeahhh little racist mate.

UMWHAT

there are white muslims too
Luv Local

How is it?

The was no mention of race, only a point made about a mind set within a religion.

JonnyBravo

looks like LEXUS is a popular choice
K20A

Apparently they’re not allowed to drive unless it’s a Lexus
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1715760895 Charles Dean

Well after all Lexus is the top selling luxury car in the GCC
Ff

Hey writer Faizoos is 100% right..

@writer.. Please dun write anything wat ur not sure about Islam

UniversityOfGoogle

Or what? You’ll have him whipped?

As far as the literate are concerned, Tim hasn’t written any untruths, I’m sure he has done a lot more research with his article than you have reading the Quran.

“this ban is based upon the view of some radicals who are governing Saudia Arabia”

You fail to give weight to this accusation. Where is your proof or explanation Faisooz. Unless you are one of those “radicals who are governing Saudia Arabia” (btw its Saudi Arabia), how do you know their views are not an interpretation of Islam?

iNoob

Not sure what your source is but I’d like to see where exactly you picked up ‘Conservative Muslim beliefs’ linked to the ban on driving..

umm NO …. I’ve lived there 8 years and it’s got nothing to do with the religion, it’s more the radical tradition that the Saudis (and only Saudis) practice.

If you’ve ever dealt with a Saudi, you’ll know well that the sheer level of arrogance and equally ignorance is on a level you might not have seen before.

Being a Muslim to them is just a routine, there are things that happen in even their holiest city which you wouldn’t imagine should (given the holy nature of the place) but ofcourse it’s nothing to the Saudis.
JP

A “King” being progressive? LOL. You mean someone who is only in charge due to being born into the right family? LOL

Did he achieve a Cert IV in King Studies?

Hope they do have a good license system, otherwise you’re about to have 50% of the adult population hit the road with little experience.

That should be fun……
FartCannon

How did she drive with little brain the size of squirrel?
theillestlife

king of saudi arabia. he must get all the b*tches
Gan Tan

Great religion this Islam (not)
http://www.ss.com Tom

when will will these nations that impose sharia law just get with the times and embrace demoapitolism! Dont change your beliefs just your laws! Disgusting!
PeterG

Unfortunately extreme Muslim practices seem to all lead back to men who made rules to control their fellow men and women who could not be trusted to behave.Maybe when those rules were made that was the case… but now?It is up to the Muslim men like the King to stand up and lead the way .The women do not have enough power yet.
James

is muslim a religion or race?

Shak

Seriously mate? Its a religion…same as Christianity.

UniversityOfGoogle

Not when its compulsory and you are forced into it for life.

Then it becomes intertwined in national ideology.

Iatola

A fair punishment would have been a minor acid attack
JEKYL & HYDE

maybe he is saveing up the lashes for katrina matthews (lol)…
http://www.caradvice.com.au Goose

South Africa attracted sanctions for carrying on like this until the 1990′s,based on its racism,yet Saudi Arabia has this vulgar sexism and it largely slips the radar. Where are the latte do gooders now?
john

It’s not the men’s fault it’s the fault of their mothers not bringing them up with a balanced view of the world

UniversityOfGoogle

“balanced view of the world”

LOL

and how is that possible when women are so oppressed and have no rights because of these primitive and barbaric “men”.

How can Muslim men truly call themselves men when all they amount to is bullying their own women, when it comes to war all they do is run and hide.

john

remember every great revolutionary in history was oppressed and had no rights. this didn’t stop them questioning the world and bringing about change. whether this was for good or bad only history can judge and that too the history written by the victors not the suppressed.

UniversityOfGoogle

Yes you speak of ‘victor’s history’, but history itself is past tense, what we are seeing in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East itself is present tense.

This only highlights the primitive and backward nature of their societies. What social progression or any positive contribution to humanity has these collection of Muslim nations really presented in the past millenium?

We the Western nations criticize and berate nations like China for dealing with countries with terrible human rights records such as Burma, Iran, North Korea etc, yet we ourselves do exactly the same thing, support and keep in power dictators like King Abdullah, Saddam Hussein (prior to his overthrow), Mubarak etc.

john

Well for a start the law of divorce under Islam, treats women much more liberally than that seen from western laws. The problem is the western media doesn’t advertise this. Have a look into it. This is an example of something good to have arisen from the middle east in the last millennia.
UniversityOfGoogle

That’s little consolation when women can be whipped or stoned to death for every other “crime” which displeases the “men”.

Am I right?
john

Considering divorce effects about 40% of first time marriages and 50% the second time in the west I wouldn’t discount it’s significance for women.

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