Permitting women to drive in Saudi Arabia
is a welcome reform, but it has its challenges
Delshad Karanjia
Saudi Arabia’s decision to end its long-standing ban on women drivers by June 2018 is a small step for the kingdom but a giant leap for Saudi society.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s decree made headlines the world over, sending supporters, critics, cynics and car dealers into overdrive. Although the consensus is that the royal decision — with the blessings of the senior clerics — is a long overdue move in the right direction, it is not going to be a smooth ride for Saudi women. In a male-dominated and patriarchal society, the paradigm shift — to permit women......