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NPR Radio Interviews a Saudi Woman on Driving..

February 3rd, 2008Lou (Saudi Arabia)

News on the recent updates on the issue of Saudi Women driving has grown to grasp a wider spectrum of attention, both nationally and internationally.. Even Saudis are already joining schools of thought that are with and against this issue.. I can’t say that this is one of the important issues that are being fixed in Saudi and that it’s more important than other more serious issues, but at least it’s “being fixed”.. Something rarely seen this active around this part of the middle east..

Recently, the NPR radio station in Jeddah (93.7 FM) had an interview with a Saudi 21 year-old woman, Sally Hejazi, who I know personally, and considered one of the popular activists who are supporting this issue.. Being in the strict country we are in, the options which are given to you to support any cause are limited.. She chose the area which grabs a lot of attention from the Youth, who are 70% of the population in Saudi.. Yep, it’s Facebook.. She’s the creator of the group “Saudi Women Can Drive.مؤدين قيادة المرأة السعودية” and her interview was posted online on the NPR website..

[ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18468148 ]

As much as I saw this as good news, I just despise the fact that we’re acting upon pressure pressed by the media, more than a will to fix things around here.. And this is not the only issue being looked after by the government because the international media noticed it, especially when it comes to Women Rights..
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Yours,

Lou..

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13 Responses to “NPR Radio Interviews a Saudi Woman on Driving..”

  1. #1 Kawthar (UAE) - February 3rd, 2008 at 11:36 pm

    Even if Saudi women are granted the right to drive, I imagine they won’t be able to

    - Take driving lessons
    - Get a driver’s licence
    - Purchase a car

    without the consent of a male guardian.

  2. #2 Lou (Saudi Arabia) - February 4th, 2008 at 6:40 am

    Well, at least we’re heading there.. Plus, if they were legalized and approved by the government, people would succumb to the benefits this offers sooner or later.. And then it will be dealt with like the issue of having women live in hotels without the consent or presence of a male guardian..

  3. #3 Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) - February 4th, 2008 at 6:57 am

    wow wonder how she agreed to the interview,
    and on wht show was this?

    - Take driving lessons

    The men folk who support the issue can teach.. n lots of women can teach too

    - Purchase a car

    I know couple of ppl who have bought car’s in their name for female relatives.. not tht big of a deal

    OFFTOPIC:

    NPR radio station in Jeddah (93.7 FM)

    is tht the frequency there? is it 24/7? I get two of NPR’s shows on AFN [107.9FM]…

  4. #4 Lou (Saudi Arabia) - February 4th, 2008 at 7:22 am

    Well, it’s the one with the Jonathen and Mary in the Morning show i guess.. I’m more familiar with the AFN in Dhahran..

  5. #5 Kawthar (UAE) - February 4th, 2008 at 8:18 am

    Muneeb,

    My point was that guardians in Saudi(and in fact many Muslim countries) are given almost absolute power over women, and true emancipation will only come through curbing that.

  6. #6 Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) - February 5th, 2008 at 6:43 am

    Kawthar, They are letting women work n b free as they realize their potential.. slowly.. but it is coming..
    n the male guardians are not ‘given’, they just assume tht they do :(

    I’m more familiar with the AFN in Dhahran..

    Damn I thght tht it was same kingdom wide

  7. #7 Lou (Saudi Arabia) - February 5th, 2008 at 6:57 am

    Well i think the AFN has separate signals according to the embassy in each city, and how the FM is crowded.. or i don’t know.. All i know is that NPR is part of AFN part of the American regime that tries to brain wash us <<<this was a reaction from a skeptic Saudi friend of mine looool..

  8. #8 Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) - February 5th, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    LOL considering some other shows on sat/sun.. NPR is pretty much moderate..
    it even advertised in AN once.. still have it :P
    n thanx for tht info

  9. #9 Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) - February 5th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

    LOL considering some other shows on sat/sun.. NPR is pretty much moderate..
    it even advertised in AN once.. still have it :P
    n thanx for tht info since I couldnt find it here..
    http://www.npr.org/worldwide/index.php?country=Saudi+Arabia#countryfinder

    can som1 del my above comnt?

  10. #10 Lou (Saudi Arabia) - February 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pm

    Contact Esra’a.. She has the power to delete our existence loool..

  11. #11 Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) - February 5th, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    She has the power to delete our existence loool..

    LOL maybe she is watching from ‘above’
    she’ll find it n del it
    n whts an extra double comment anyways?
    but publisher’s of the story can del …

  12. #12 omar - February 5th, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    woman not know how to drive a car? they crash and kill people. i beat my wife when she ask me to drive.

  13. #13 Lou (Saudi Arabia) - February 5th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    Muneeb,

    Well, i published the article, i can only delete it as a whole, i don’t have power over the replies..

    And Omar,

    Huh?

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