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[johnslat]

Saudi king overturns court verdict sentencing a female driver to 10 lashes
By Associated Press, Published: September 28

RIYADH, Saudi Arab

"Saudi King Abdullah has overturned a court ruling sentencing a Saudi woman to be lashed 10 times for defying the kingdom�s ban on female drivers, a government official said Wednesday.

The official declined to elaborate on the monarch�s decision, and spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

A Saudi court on Tuesday found Shaima Jastaina guilty of violating the driving ban, and sentenced her to 10 lashes. The verdict took Saudi women by surprise, coming just a day after King Abdullah promised to protect women�s rights and decreed that women would be allowed to participate in municipal elections in 2015. Abdullah also promised to appoint women to a currently all-male advisory body known as the Shura Council.

The harsh sentence marked the first time a legal punishment had been handed down since female activists began their campaign in June to break the taboo in this ultraconservative Muslim nation.

There are no written laws that restrict women from driving. Rather, the ban is rooted in conservative traditions and religious views that hold giving freedom of movement to women would make them vulnerable to sins.

Normally, police just stop female drivers, question them and let them go after they sign a pledge not to drive again. But dozens of women have continued to take to the roads since June in a campaign to break the taboo.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that bans women � both Saudi and foreign � from driving. The prohibition forces families to hire live-in drivers, and those who cannot afford the $300 to $400 a month for a driver must rely on male relatives to drive them to work, school, shopping or the doctor."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/saudi-king-overturns-court-verdict-sentencing-a-female-driver-to-10-lashes/2011/09/28/gIQAnW3E5K_story.html

And yet - there are still those who deny that ABDULLAH ROCKS

Regards,
John

[scot47]

Knee-jerk reaction of many is to denounce the Saudi State and everything that happens there. The situationn is a bit more complex than that. Abdullah is actually one of the good guys.

Now that I have safely returned to Christendom I can disclose that I actually like the old cove !

[sheikh radlinrol]

[It's Scary!]

Well, the problem that I have to the old servant of Allah is he WILL rock when heads stop their ROLL!

It's funny as we were always told to pray for Fahad's health as Abd. would be the one for the worse!

[Captain_Fil]

A nation where women can't drive?

And if found driving, can be lashed?

It's scary!

[It's Scary!]

[Captain_Fil]