Princess Ameerah Raises Voice Against Ban on Female Driving in Saudi Arabia

By Staff Reporter - 25 Nov '14 07:11AM

Saudi Arabia is reportedly in talks to lift the ban on female drivers, but it might take a while.

Authorities had strongly warned against any step that would violate the kingdom's controversial ban. Earlier this year, a woman was allegedly subjected to 150 lashes after she was caught driving, Daily Mail reports.

Princess Ameerah, the former wife of a multi-billionaire Saudi Arabian royal, has been trying her best to fight against the unjust ban.

"I don't believe the ban will go on indefinitely. It will be like the decree calling for 20 per cent of Parliament to be made up of women - a surprising development, but one which happened very rapidly. It is my job and duty to use my power and influence to highlight these kinds of issues and to try to find solutions. I am offered platforms to speak around the world, and I must use them to try to change things," the Princess said.

Ameerah added that all she wants is that women in her country be allowed the same rights as those in other parts of the world.

Before her divorce, the Princess used to be driven to places in chauffeur-driven limousines. However, after her divorce, the 31-year-old Princess is equally content in driving her own £15,000 Mini Cooper. She has an international license to drive and when she is in Europe or the United States, she loves to drive. But, she doesn't drive in the United Kingdom "because driving on the left is quite confusing," Marie Claire reports.

Women have been forbidden from driving in the country since the establishment of the state in 1932.

But, Ameerah believes that the people of Saudi Arabia have advanced and hopes that "it is the generation of young people in Saudi Arabia which is going to accelerate change in the country."

Even if the ban is lifted, Saudi Arabia will impose certain conditions on women who seek to drive. Women above the age of 30 will be allowed to drive only after they are granted permission by their male guardian. They would be allotted time frames - 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Saturday to Wednesday and 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday - during which they can drive.
They will be prohibited from driving while wearing makeup and in case they are going out of the city, they will need a male to be present in the car with them.