Women in Saudi Arabia are now legally allowed to obtain driving licences following a decree issued by King Salman today.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that the King had issued the order after “we looked into what the negative consequences of not allowing women to drive, and the positive aspects of allowing them to do so, taking into consideration the application of the necessary Shari’ah regulations and compliance with them.”
It added that the majority of scholars “do not see a reason why women should not be allowed to drive a car.”
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The new ruling will take effect in June next year.
Scores of women in Saudi Arabia have long protested their inability to drive, with the issue being a symbol of the government’s repression of female rights.