It's great that Saudi women are starting to take a stand against their government's oppressive laws. The harder thing may be changing the attitudes and culture of the country even if more rights are given to women legally.

http://mekancatherine.blogspot.com/2011/05/egypt-virginity-tests-female-saudi.html

And this is why i am happy to be a Muslim AMERICAN. These "religious" regimes have nothing to do with Islam – but rather a man's suppression of women.

They have IDIOT religious clerics that only hold the position to dominant women and know NOTHING on ISLAM! The first convert to Islam after Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was HIS WIFE – KHADIJAH and she was an INDEPENDANT WEALTHY BUSINESS WOMAN!

Regardless of how many verses and ahadiths discuss women's equality & freedoms – the ARABS continue to followi the PRE-ISLAMIC Arab cultural of continuously mis-treating women!

Saudi arabia has been known for her strong religion ethics so this recent protest may tbke a long process before it could be actualised.

Saudi arabia has been known for her strong religion ethics so this recent protest may take a long process before it could be actualised. Dialouge is require to solve the problem.

Freedom is beautiful, it allowed self expression, lucidly explained human action and should be allowed all. Understandably the Arabs are afriad of losing their Identity, but there is nothing they can do about it. the world progresses it never allowed for retrogression. what you did not allowed to change will change itself at its time, and such changes are costlier. Women should be allow to express themselves for women's beauty is in their ability live out their inner content.

Absolutely, absolutely... unconditional release. These types of religions should be abolished by popular up-rising.

Ah, the enlightned Saudis, US allies and one of the few democracies in the world. CNN's favorite racists

Following abstracts list from CNN news.

*Egyptian general:"virginity checks"were performed on women arrested at demonstrations

*Women raped by solders in Libya as a weapon of war.

*A female CBS correspondent is recovering from a sexual attack and beating while reporting on the events in Egypt

*Muslim brotherhood agenda: Women should be teacher to behave in line with Islamic duties

*Pakistan's Minister of Women's Affairs, Nilofar Bakhtiar, said:
We are an Islamic country and these are Islamic laws
-A raped woman has to prove the rape allegation by 4 male witnesses;she could be put in jail for adultery
-Young girls are routinely sold off into virtual slavery by their families

*Women arrested for driving in Saudi Arabia.

* Bahrain's security forces are increasingly targeting women in their campaign against pro democracy protesters

I love the expression that the lady said in the interview:
"The rain starts with a drop." Let it lead to f load.

you haven't been reading Coran .every law that saudi arabia has , has been written in Coran why do you say they don't know nothing on islam i recommend you to read coran i am a muslim I'm sure of that.

to june...you mean you are an American of the islamic religion and as such you are called a muslim...

How crazy is this , just shows how un religous the saudi goverment Is , I havenot heard anything like this in any muslim country , The saudi regime is corrupt and opressive to women and its our duty as muslim to ensure muslim women have thier rights to DRIVE

Too much chaos and blood in the world because of democratic toxins from the west. i wish it was the other way round. Moslem's standard being imposed in Western 'rat' values.

Religious police, women have no rights, Sounds like Afghanistan before the war. But we support SA since they provide oil??

The Quran was written centuries ago and was sent as a guide for the people of those times to lead them towards a better life. The world has since evolved, but unfortunately the men who are in the position of preachers are now so used to twisting the teachings of the Quran to best suit their own agendas that it is out of control. As a muslim woman I'd like to ask someone to show me where exactly in the Quran it says "women cannot drive" excuse me being emotional about this but back in the day that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet there were no bloody cars! Nowhere in Islam does it say that women can't vote. Saudi Arabia is just a male dominated society that justifies it's men being able to get away with murder and it's women being treated almost like slaves by religion and that is where the wrong is.
If this is all about PROTECTING their women as they say it is, then why not start with laxing the law to let women drive accompanied by males of her family?

honestly, wat harm can it do for a woman to drive?, i mean, how is driving wrong? i just dont get it, even religiously, it doesnt make sense.

I'm a Saudi. I believe that it a right for the women to drive.
It is not about the religion. it is more about the culture.
It will take me pages to explain. I want to say that there is nothing in the Islam says women can't drive. It is all about the people in Saudi Arabia and the way they think which drives me, the Saudi kid, CRAZY.
Hopefully, everything will change.
who knows?

I'm Thai , 100 years ago in thai , The Status of women was like in suadi arabia today , She can't do everything if their family did't allow her.We are Bhub ,We have our tradition but we can change , Now thai woman can do everything like women in western sociaty [We had learn ,We had work,We can drive, We can go everywhere We want ] Why Saudi arabia did't change It like they take women go back to 100 years ago.

I'm a western woman living in Saudi Arabia for the last two years. This is a beautiful place in terms of buildings, etc. However there is such a dark and heavy spirit weighing over this land. Its simply put bondage. Bondage for women and even the men since they themselves are just following what their ancestors did without even questioning if its right or wrong or simply if it makes sense of not.
Its so difficult to do anything if I don't have anyone to drive me. My husband comes home from work late at times and it breaks my heart everytime I have to bother him to go to the store or get the basics that we both need. Its very frustrating. I really do hope one day that Saudi will wake up and realise that keeping people in bondage is only gonna come back and bite them where it hurts the most. I empathize with women in this country. Human beings are the same all over the world, don't tell me religion is the reason for it. Its simply man's dominance over women. Real men are not insecure, however Saudi men are. Imagine in winter men can choose what color thobe they want to wear, women simply have to wear all black or else the Motowas are out for you. Really is that what the Quran says? Come on men seriously why not ACT AS REAL MEN!

I am with the People who speak with Truth where this country does have a dark and heavy spirit lingering over the Eastern part of the World.It is simply BONDAGE. I agree with a whole lot of people that this is Crazy and Senseless for Woman not to have the same rules as men in that Country. It is obvious that its a control issue .... When I was younger I tried to understand what is all the War about that is NEVER ENDING and still is TODAY. Why can't Woman live like the rest of anyone else in that Country? And yes that is so true that Human Beings are the same all over the World. Take a look at what these Woman have to go through still today.
*Egyptian general:"virginity checks"were performed on women arrested at demonstrations

*Women raped by solders in Libya as a weapon of war.

*A female CBS correspondent is recovering from a sexual attack and beating while reporting on the events in Egypt

*Muslim brotherhood agenda: Women should be teacher to behave in line with Islamic duties

*Pakistan's Minister of Women's Affairs, Nilofar Bakhtiar, said:
We are an Islamic country and these are Islamic laws
-A raped woman has to prove the rape allegation by 4 male witnesses;she could be put in jail for adultery
-Young girls are routinely sold off into virtual slavery by their families

*Women arrested for driving in Saudi Arabia.

* Bahrain's security forces are increasingly targeting women in their campaign against pro democracy protesters

I say my prayers and be Thankful that I am Blessed by living in a free Country and not tortured into something I don't want to do without my own free will. I also Pray for that part of the Country because this has been going on for too many, many years. God Bless that Country and to please pray to bring these woman out of Bondage.