If husbands and brothers want it, then what could be a problem? The wishes of the women involved don't seem to matter at all. From Arab News, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
JEDDAH, 26 December 2005 — Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, yesterday emphasized the government’s readiness to open the way for women driving once they get consent from their families.“When fathers, husbands and brothers ask us for women to drive we will look into it, but if they ask us the opposite we can’t force them (to let women drive),” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the crown prince as saying. In a previous statement, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah had said that Saudi women would be permitted to drive someday.
“I believe strongly in the rights of women,” the king had said in his first television interview since acceding to the throne on Aug. 1.
“I believe the day will come when women will drive. I believe it will be possible and I believe patience is a virtue,” the king had told Barbara Walters of ABC News. However, he had said he would not impose it against the will of his people by issuing a royal decree.
I also believe the day will come when women will drive.
And maybe they'll even be able to parallel park.
:p
I don't see it happening too soon as the Saudi males and the muttawa aren't going to allow women to remove the bags from their heads so they can see.
Oh....but seeing the level of Saudi driving, the ladies could wear the bags and be as good as the blokes.
The religious police won't let go of the control of women that easily.
There is a very good reason why women are not allowed to drive in the KSA.
The hands of women at the wheel may excite Saudi drivers and then, as the male drivers draw nearer to look at the female hands with lust, there will be a dramatic increase of head on collisions.
Saudi males just cannot handle such stuff say the Saudi mullahs sitting in their mosques.
I used to be able to parallel park when I didn't have to drive a Kid Mobile filled with car seats, strollers, crates of oganic bottled water, and an air quality analyzer to make certain that there are no peanut vapors in the air as some of their little allergic friends have allergies...
Shy Guy,
I challenge you to a "drive off", then a race. :)
'“I believe strongly in the rights of women,” the king had said...'
He just doesn't believe in women exercising those rights or he has a different definition of 'rights.'
Howdy folks,
As the moniker sayz I'm from Finland, which so far is almoust 100 % islam-free. I did, however, live in neighbouring Sweden 1985-86 and 1990-91.
I speak fluent swedish and I do have a very good wiev on that most depressing dhimmiland in west;
I read Aftonbladet every day.
There's been gangrapes in Sweden as well as in Norway, and I think there are some possibilities for a breakthrough. Basically, the multiculturalist thought police censures everything, but this time they may no long be able to keep the lid on.
BRÅ - the commission for crime prevention - released its report a few days ago. The report is depressing read for multiculturalists; it clearly shows the extreme correlation between rape and the rapist being from muslim countries. The multi-culti's are now desperately playing the race card, but the bubble is about to burst. There could soon be a wedge between the feminists and the multi-cultis.
Do you have any interest in what happens there ? I mean I can talk you through some articles if you have interest. I'm also planning a sort of look-we-told-you-so pamflet.
Finn
More interesting is - "how did Finland manage to be almost 100% Muslim free"? In other words, what do/did they do that is different from Norway, Sweden & Denmark?
That would be a good lesson for other infidel countries to follow - instead of a no questions asked entry policy to Muslims.
Finn
Don't you realize that it is not the moslem men's fault that they can't control their passions when they encounter Swedish women dressed in normal Western attire. The only solution to the problem which is compatible with the ideal of multiculturalism is that Swedish women should take up wearing the bourkha (and they should probably give up driving as well, just to be on the safe side).
hello Finn, maybe its too cold for a muslim to leave in peace in Finland! my family are mostly from Northern Ontario, many Finns have immigrated there. l am told the landscape is very similiar to Finland. my brother has told me not many muslims surive one winter there, in the spring they head south to Toronto!
l think we can unite the left with the right who are where most feminist find themselves. if we can get that women's sufferage thing going, l am confident we could whip up those pesky muslim men who cannot seem to control themselves when they see women without a sac over their bodies!
Don't Saudi women have to have a man with them everywhere they go? Why would they need to drive then? Of course they don't need to drive../sarc off
Yeah, the king needs to change THAT rule first I think. Then the driving rule.
I think the king reads Jihad Watch, so make sure you tell him! I have noticed things said here seem to get a reaction from him /sarc/
Wow, Finn! Yes do help everyone stay informed. Fjordman has been wonderful but we could always use more perspective from up north. How did you find Jihad Watch?
Finn, how did you keep the savages out of Finland?
Is it too cold for them, or are there sensible immigration laws in Finland? I'm really curious.
All of the multicultural countries in Europe will eventally have to reconcile the blatant facts with wishful thinking. However, when they finally admit that immigrant muslims are a lethal menace, what then? Will they deport them? Will they isolate them, give them their own sovereign territory? There is so viable solution that I can see, at least not one that the unelected EU bureaucrats who control Europe will consider. I think they will simply surrender to the Islamic hordes for peace at any cost. Almost every European country is in dire need of new leadership, but that won't occur if the people don't understand what's at stake and fight to save their countries.
I'm afraid that the American people will someday learn that we too, were sold out to the Saudi barbarians for oil. I only hope we never allow the muslim problem to escalate to European proportions before holding our politicians accountable and demanding immigration reform. But we probably will.
Sad news, I would think that Europe is really lost, except for my experience in Poland this summer. My nieces wedding, in a beautiful Baroque church- one of the few buildings to survive the Nazi destruction of Warsaw- was a confirmation that the Christian religion is not dead yet, at least not in the European East.
Years of hardship under communism, have sharpened the Christian will and love of family.
I made it my personal mission to give copies of Mr Spencer's books as well as Eurabia, and to talk to friends and relatives. some from Germany about the new Pope and what must be done.
I was surprised to find that many of my relations from Bavaria, who I had not seen for sometime were equally as aware of the danger and willing to fight for their culture.
Perhaps from the unfashionable corners and so-called backwaters, where the christian spirit has survived, it my rise to save the west.
Sorry, this post is in the wrong spot, my mistake.
Great Finn! Welcome, I was in your lovely country in route to Poland last summer.
Yes please keep us informed about what you see and read.
On my trip, at Warsaw airport as I had cleared customs, I saw a group of Hijabed covered women, coming off some flight, they were surrounded by Polish immigration police and held for some long and intensive questioning. No political correctness here. The response of most of the Poles was shock and suspicion, they definitely didn't seem welcomed.
What is going on in Sweden, I already miss Fjordjam's blog.
I quess I found jihadwatch through Fjordman.
The immigration laws are strict due to cold war. Finland was there between the west and east. The laws have been "relaxed" a little since 1990, and right now we have 0,1 % population being muslims. Needless to say, also that little are criminals. Today Finland takes in something like 1000-2000 migrants / yr.
But, as I noted, I'm planning a book about islam in europe which I hope I'm ready with 2006-7. I will go negative but honest, the facts are right. I will take a grim look at Saudi's, which is the reason I'm afraid I will have problems with censorship. If one speaks the truth about islam, especially the influetial wahhabi's, the publishers may start coughing.
I have a sinister publishing plan. First, I will try to publish it in Sweden, and hopefully the book is banned. "Book totally forbidden in Sweden" is a juicy sales argument. Which begs the question, do you know any publishers in the U.S willing to publish such stuff ? Somebody who's not afraid of Saudi' relations ?
Sorry, this post is in the wrong spot, my mistake.
No apology needed, it was worth reading twice.
Bad joke from an old CAMRA (CAMpaign for Real Ale) beer guide.
Wife - woman who will drive you to drink.
And with a bit of luck will drive you home again.