• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Saudi King Said To Overturn Verdict Against Woman Driver

September 29, 2011

Reports from Saudi Arabia say King Abdullah has revoked a court ruling sentencing a Saudi woman to 10 lashes for breaking the Saudi ban on female drivers.

The reversal was distributed via Twitter by Saudi Princess Amira al-Taweel, wife of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and also reported by AP, but has not been officially confirmed.

A court in the city of Jeddah this week found Shaima Jastaina guilty of violating the ban on women drivers in July, and she was sentenced to 10 lashes.

The sentence was announced shortly after King Abdullah declared that women would be allowed to participate in municipal elections in 2015.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that bans women -- both Saudi and foreign -- from driving.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/saudi_king_reverses_lashes_for_woman_driver_verdict/24343345.html

Copyright (c) 2011. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.