How many of us women willingly put our freedom at risk every time we get behind the wheel of a car to run an ordinary errand, like grocery shopping? Recently, one Saudi woman, Manal Al-Sharif, took such a risk backed by the support of her brother and a well-known Saudi women’s rights activist, both of whom accompanied her in the car while she drove in plain view. Later that day Manal posted a video on YouTube, shortly after which she was arrested but released on bail, and then arrested again in the middle of the night without a warrant. Her crime, in the words of a Mona Eltahawy, a famous Egyptian columnist: ‘driving while female.’ 
Saudi Arabia, is the only country in the world that prohibits women to drive, not by law but by old standing tribal tradition. The Saudis believe that women should be protected and kept from danger, granting them the treatment of ‘queens’ while the men act as their guardians providing them with everything they need, except well, unconditional freedom. Manal is being perceived by many now as the new Rosa Parks, and gaining world-wide support and attention for her courage to challenge tradition. It is ironic to note that there are Saudi women who travel and drive overseas and are in legal possession of international driver’s licenses, only to get back home and have their rights revoked. Manal, a 32-year-old Computer Security Consultant, sees herself as a practical woman of the 21st-century, and contends that it is in fact more dangerous not to be able to drive, contrary to what her patriarchal society upholds. Call it efficiency, practicality, or just plain common sense, but what if she or a family member were to get sick for example? She wouldn’t be able to transport herself or either of them to a hospital, but instead have to wait for an arranged ride or for a male guardian to get home. Here is where tradition and practicality clash. As Joseph Campbell so eloquently put it, our religions, myths, and traditions must be adapted to fit our modern and functional understanding of the world, otherwise they become nothing more than archaic fairy tale like machinations of an extant world with which we can no longer identify. In light of all the exciting changes taking place in the Middle East, Manal, like many other women in that part of the world today believe they are standing at the threshold of a new age. She is the inspiration for a new generation of women whose voices are now starting to reverberate worldwide, thanks to social media groups and the internet, like that of a young Saudi tweeter who recently posted: ‘Wedo not need a guardian or someone to watch out for us, in order to keep our purity and honor.’ She could’ve well added to that, BUT WE DO NEED CARS! As of May 27th, Al-Sharif’s detention in prison has been extended to another 10 days while authorities decide how they should handle her case. Despite her ordeal, and as her 5-year-old son is in the hospital with an infection, Manal remains positive and believes in the judicial system, confident that she will receive a fair trial. Her Facebook page has attracted 2086 followers thus far since her apprehension on May 23rd, as more people everywhere are rallying in her favor.
Please share this story, in support of this outstanding young woman, and her undeniable victory – a victory which in the end we can all partake in and be proud of. For further information you can also log on to RightSideNews.com and ArabNews.com.
