A Saudi Prince, Faisal Bin Abdullah, has declared his support for women driving cars, saying that earlier they used to lead their own camels in the past.
In an interview with Riyadh-based Rotana Khalijia TV he said, “The ban on women driving has been imposed on us, and women in the past used to lead their own camels. Women need to be empowered because they represent more than half of the society and they are highly dependable”.
As per the Saudi Arabia’s Education Minister Faisal Bin Abdullah the changes are “inevitable”. He added, “Change, in all cases, must start from within, and women need to prove their success and their positive influence on society”.
Read more: Trump’s little moment caught on camera in Saudi Arabia
The practice of women driving cars is not formally forbidden by law but accepted as illegal following religious bans. However, two of the Saudi princes have come out in support of women being allowed to drive.
Chauffeur, which is a means of transport of the Saudi’s women limits their independence, particularly for the employed or who are running their own business. With this new change, the region might witness an increase in female participation in the economy.
“I have great pride in Saudi women. They are mothers, wives, and daughters, and I take immense pride in them and in their faith, beliefs, and commitments in our modern times. Women in Saudi Arabia are the bases of society and they hold a significant place in Islamic civilisation,” said the prince.
Earlier this month, King Salman altered some changes in the guardianship rules allowing women greater independence from the approval of the male relative.
For years, Saudi women have been defying the driving ban, often leading to their arrests. Last year in April, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman denying it to be a religious matter said that the Saudi community was not convinced about letting women drive.
