18 Jun 2011

Saudi women defy ban on female drivers

11:47 am on 18 June 2011

Women's rights supporters in Saudi Arabia have begun a campaign of direct action against the country's ban on female drivers.

The direct action has been organised on social network sites, where women have been posting images and videos of themselves behind the wheel, in defiance of the law.

Their Facebook page says the direct action will continue until a royal decree reverses the ban.

The campaign follows the detention last month of a woman who posted a video on the internet of herself driving.

Accused of "besmirching the kingdom's reputation abroad and stirring up public opinion", Manal al-Sherif was released after 10 days, having promised not to drive again.

Amnesty International says the Saudi authorities must stop treating women as second-class citizens, and calls the ban an immense barrier to their freedom of movement.