After many years of activism and appeals both from within and outside the Gulf nation, Saudi Arabia has declared that women will finally be able to drive. But they won’t be able to do so without some restrictions. Saudi authorities said.
The royal decree, announced live on state television, promises that from June next year women will be able to drive.
A newly-formed committee is said to present its findings within 30 days on how the policy should be implemented.
Saudi women will reportedly be able to apply for their own driving licenses without having to secure the permission of their male guardians. However, rules that govern the guardianship of women continue to restrict many aspects of every day life for the country’s female population.
Saudi Arabia, which adheres to some of the strictest interpretations of Sunni Islam in the world, has long prevented women from taking on a larger role in its society.