World

Saudi Woman Sentenced to 10 Lashes for Defying Driving Ban

Saudi Woman to Get 10 Lashes for Defying Saudi Arabian Driving Ban

Saudi King Abdullah has given the kingdom's women the right to vote for first time in nationwide local elections, due in 2015. The king said in an annual speech on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011 before his advisory assembly, or Shura Council, that Saudi women will be able to run and cast ballots in the 2015 municipal elections. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

Saudi women now have the right to vote and run for public office, but religious edicts are still holding them back from driving. Taking the nation’s ban on female drivers to new levels, a kingdom court has sentenced a Saudi woman with 10 lashes for driving despite known restrictions.

According to Samar Badawi, the woman, Shaima Ghassaniya, was found guilty of driving without the Saudi government’s permission. It’s interesting to note that edicts are religious proclamations and that the driving ban, though reiterated by officials, is not officially written into Saudi law. The Associated Press writes more about the situation women face in the Middle Eastern nation:

In Saudi Arabia, no woman can travel, work, marry, get divorced, gain admittance to a public hospital or live independently without permission from a “mahram,” or male guardian. Men can beat women who don‘t obey them and fathers or brothers have the right to prevent their female relatives from getting married if they don’t approve of her suitor.

“Right now, women are harassed and they get dragged to courts and nothing has changed in this respect,” said Aboul Khair, who himself has been referred to court after challenging the social restrictions women face as well as other issues. His trial has yet to start.

The ruling, which comes just days after King Abdullah announced that Saudi women will gain the right to vote and run as candidates in local elections, seems to be counterintuitive. After all, it was days ago that Abdullah said, “We refuse to marginalize the role of women in Saudi society and in every aspect, within the rules of Sharia.”

Ghassaniya’s punishment adds some more curiosities to the discussion about women’s rights in the kingdom, considering that this is the first time such a decision has been issued. While women have been detained in the past, sentencing of this sort is a new development, leading one to wonder if this situation will only intensify.

In May, The Blaze brought you the story of Manal al-Sharif, a Saudi woman who launched a campaign against the kingdom’s driving ban. Al-Sharif posted a video of herself driving on both Facebook and YouTube to encourage others to join her in opposing the ban.

(h/t Fox News)

Comments (146)

  • 4X4in
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:36pm

    Voting, and getting it counted are two different things.

    Report Post »  
    • mils
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:48pm

      Getting it counted is the key. also, this is one small example why we cannot allow sharia to spread to the “free” world.
      \People should not have the “right” to enforce sharia in the United Sates.

      Report Post »  
    • azjeff1963
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:06pm

      okay…just saying…are they bare bottom while they are getting these lashes…just saying maybe thats there style of porn?

      Report Post » azjeff1963  
    • AvengerK
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:47pm

      and it was only yesterday we were reading about a Saudi woman praising Sharia and how it protects women. That silly religion of peace and tolerance again…nearly had us there.

      Report Post »  
    • Cat
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:09pm


      OT
      Heads up folks …

      North Caroline Governor, Democrat Beverly Perdue, suggested the postponement of all state and federal elections for two years.

      Report Post » Cat  
    • SgtB
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 10:19pm

      Does “voting” even really matter when you live in a KINGDOM!?! Seriously people, if you live under the authority of a monarch and you are considered his/her property, your vote does not matter. Perfect example is the UK. They have a legislative assembly made up of the people, but in the end, they belonf to the queen. They are all slaves. Which is why they don’t have the assumed right of self defense or free speech. They also have no written social contract that guarantees even these basic freedoms. Which is why a man in the UK is now awaiting trial for murder when the man he killed was 1/2 of a team of thugs trying to beat him and vandalize his home.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • Rightsofman
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:09pm

      How‘s the NOW chapter doin’ over there these days?

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 11:24pm

      Yeah, what a backward, uncivilized country! That’s Muslims for you! The United States has allowed women to vote for 90 years or so, and probably hasn’t lashed citizens or put them in the stocks for at least that long in major cities. Of course there are the exeptions like the lynching of blacks in the 50s and 60s, and Abu Ghraib, but in general the United States stopped those practices a long time ago.

      It‘s been almost 60 years since blacks couldn’t drink out of the same water fountain as whites. That’s a really long time. All of those practices were supported by the Christian religious leaders of the time, almost without exception, but with the passage of time the true word of God has revealed itself. Just a few weeks ago gays were allowed in the military, earning the same status that blacks (who weren’t gay) were given a long time ago. There are even women in the military now. What the Bible says just keeps changing, at least if were to listen to the learned servents of God over time!

      Even sixty year ago after WWII we prosecuted people and put them to death for waterboarding and other forms of torture. Thank goodness we took the moral high ground on that! And of course we still, in accordance with the US Constitution and Sharia Law put people to death if we think they killed someone.

      When

      Report Post » jzs  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 3:06am

      Mils you should read the other story on the blaze about the muslins over taking the German population in Germany, in some German citys the muslins number 90% of the total population. Whats happening in Germany NEEDS TO BE A WAKE UP CALL to us here in America, oh ya by the way the muslins in Germany DO NOT want to become part of German life they want to live separate from the German people but they WANT the German people (whats left of them) to bend to them not the other way around and everything thats happening in Germany is coming to a city near you.

      Report Post »  
    • M 4 Colt
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 3:23am

      JZS doesn’t being a liberal get tiresome, always trying to stir conflict with other Blaze posters with your comments.

      Report Post »  
    • old white guy
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:02am

      4by4. you are right. i can say you have the ability to vote but your vote means nothing and has zero effect on government or laws. islam will never allow any woman to really be free.

      Report Post »  
    • jkjk
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:11am

      What a peaceful religion. Some people should be lashed for their driving skills here. Any woman that follows this religion these days deserves it.

      Report Post » jkjk  
    • Live_Free_orDie
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 8:47am

      Hmmm Burkas for their fugly woman…they don’t let woman drive.<<<just sayin' :-)

      Report Post » Live_Free_orDie  
  • Kerri g
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:36pm

    Sure, now they have rights, WITHIN SHERIA LAW, there are no rights for women under sheria law. Mute point.

    Report Post »  
    • cloudsofwar
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:55pm

      i could care less what they do in that part of the world, they can beat temselves to death. screw them, they hate us and love our money. we need to drill here and drill now or drill them in their heads. remember the 9/11 highjackers are from SA.

      Report Post »  
  • jakartaman
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:35pm

    Lived there for awhile,
    They let the 10 and 12 year old boys drive their $100K Mercedes with mom and sis in back seat.
    You see a LOT of turned over burnt out cars on the side of the road- Hum!

    Report Post »  
  • 4X4in
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:34pm

    SShhhhh don’t tell them but, there vote won’t be counted……….SHHHHHH!

    Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:40pm

      This would work out well – they can sit in the back seat and put on their makeup – instead of doing it driving down the road.

      Report Post » db321  
  • clockwatcher
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:29pm

    Where are the “women ” of the left in America? They only get outraged and get their size 18 underware in a twist if it was a republican. If it’s not a republican no big deal.

    Report Post » clockwatcher  
    • jenk99
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:10pm

      Exactly. But don’t use logic when trying to figure them out. They certainly don’t use logic…ever.

      Report Post »  
  • azjeff1963
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:27pm

    WELL aint that special….and for all you muslum loving sheria loving women out there……..good luck with that….this is me whishing you never get to touch a car againg because of your retarded beliefs…..ha ha.

    Report Post » azjeff1963  
    • rose-ellen
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 11:18am

      It’s up to the women there to mount a liberation movement and to cease indoctrinating their own children in the culture if they oppose it. if they really feel that driving is dangerous and go along with mens paternalism toward them -that is their culture and none of our business. They are a desert culture and in pre-industrial times it made sense for women to need the protection of men – getting around alone could be dangerous for anyone and more so for women. before you jump on your self righteous indignation-rape and abuse of women has always been common in our culture too.And we needed a womens movement to make women equal and not the property of husbands.Women going about alone when the west was being settled was not approved of either. Women needed escorts to travel and even to be out at night until fairly recently. And we’re not a desert culture.[pre-industrrial and more at the mercy of the elements llike arabia was for eons.]The culture of paternalism made sense for a long time there-let them come into the 21st c mores organically-from the people themselves as opposed to our impositions. TYhe world and its peoples do not belong to us and their ways do not have to be our ways.Cultural imperialism is as odious as colonizarion.I don’t care how backward they are. They’re indigenous and in their homelands it is for them to change if and when they choose.What is freedom for humans?People are as free as they believe themselves to be. All culture is brainwashing-even ours.

      Report Post »  
  • mikee1
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:26pm

    I would like to suggest sending Gloria Steinman, Jane Fonda, that Warren witch and many more there to live out their days. I think there might be an upside to the muslim attitude.

    Report Post » mikee1  
    • chazman
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:36pm

      … Well, I guess it really DOES stink to be a Saudi woman, and a muslim to boot! Bummer …

      Report Post »  
  • mad_hatter
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:19pm

    TALKING ABOUT COVERING UP…

    Someone tell Nancy Grace, no one wants to see skin. Did you hear that while Dancing with DVTS she had a falling out wardrobe malfunction. YIKES. Here’s the clip: http://www.americanparchment.com/video/2011/sep/grace_wardrobe_malfunction.html

    Report Post »  
  • Tickdog
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:17pm

    I don’t care.. not my problem. if they want to live in the stone age, let ‘em…

    Report Post » Tickdog  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:43pm

      As long as we allow immigration from there to here, It is our problem.

      Or are allies do the same. One day we might not have allies.

      Report Post »  
  • SHOWMESTATEGUY
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:15pm

    Coming to America soon if the libs have their way.

    Report Post »  
    • Morris
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 10:35am

      To all femals in the United States Of America,Just wait for Dictator Barack Hussein Obama our Muslim-in-Chief signs on of his Executive Orders to allow “SHARIA-LAW” in our America!
      This Obama Admin. is Shoving there “POLITICAL CORRECTNESS” Islam,Muslim,Koran and
      Sharia-law down our throats every day, Islam is Obamas chosen Religion,He is a Muslim and he
      and his Administration are going all out for these Barbaric Islam Muslim BU__SH__!
      The Muslim Brotherhood is here in our America and getting stronger everyday, They are working
      on their top prize and that is “MUSLIM TOTAL WORLD DOMINATION” and the take over of
      the USA, They want to turn our America into a 3-rd World Country,That will be run by a Dictator
      and The Muslim Brotherhood!
      America, IMPEACH this Muslim Dictator Barack Hussein Obama our Muslin-in-Chief,He is working
      with Saudi Arabia (WITH ALL OF THEIR BLOOD OIL MONEY) and the Muslim Brotherhood!
      America, Don,t let this Dictator Obama and his Corrupt Admin. Turn our America into his
      “GLOBAL NEW WORLD ODRER”, Run by Dictator Barack Hussein Obama and the Muslim Brotherhood!
      IMPEACH OBAMA AND GET RID OF HIS CORRUPT ADMIN,SAVE OUR REPUBLIC OUR
      AMERICA!
      Lets start DEPORTING all “ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS”, Mexicans and Muslims that are sneaking into our USA Every day!(FOR FREE LIVING)!
      Maybe how about we start DEPORTING MULIMS ALSO???
      Our Problems are just starting with ISLAM and The Muslims and the Muslim Brotherhood,
      “WE THE PEOPLE” of the US

      Report Post »  
  • Drivenbylogic
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:13pm

    @Libertard Every blazer wants to kill Arabs? I was going to breeze past your post like the inane babble it is, but there were no other posts so I have a moment. WISE UP. Jihad was declared on US you moron, we HELPED the mujahadeen (sp?) liberate Afghanistan from the soviets and what did we get for our trouble? We got UBL popping off from his d!ck sucker about how EVIL we are and sending our own planes into our nations economic heart. Morons like you give REAL libertarian leaning people a bad name. Ron Paul is a good man but his foreign policy positions are utterly naive.

    Report Post » Drivenbylogic  
    • LibertariansUnite
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:17pm

      Keep feeding the war machine.

      I just find it ironic that people say “Arabs and Muslims are not human! They are bent on killing us! We should kill them first!

      Then they wanna turn around and defend “Arab women”.

      Make up your mind blazers, are Muslims people or not?

      Report Post » LibertariansUnite  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:21pm

      Libertarian, with ones I’ve “dated” are certainly human :) Should I introduce Driven to a couple?

      Report Post »  
    • Drivenbylogic
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:25pm

      Did I in any way infer that muslim’s were NOT human? “Feed the war machine” can only be code for “turn the other cheek” or some other such evolved stance that let’s people get away with atrocities against my countrymen. Let me fill you in on a little secret, I am not nor will I EVER turn the other cheek to a RELIGION/IDEOLOGY OR NATION that burns my flag, attacks my allies and threatens my very existence. YOU may find it morally acceptable to be a victim but I simply find you to be stupid and a coward. Grow a set would be my only advice to you.

      Report Post » Drivenbylogic  
    • LibertariansUnite
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:38pm

      @DRIVEN

      Your armchair patriotism is pathetic. I have actually done military service. I am going to guess you haven’t.

      When you say “I” will fight anyone against our “flag” (nationalism, don’t get me started on that anyways) , you mean to say “Other people”.

      If you wanna kill Arabs so much, move to Israel and join their military.

      Report Post » LibertariansUnite  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:08pm

      @ Drivenbylogic

      WELL SAID!!

      @ LibertariansUnite

      I can tell from your past comments and post on the BLAZE that your head is filled with things a dog would not eat and a cat would want to cover up. Some where in your past life some Union teacher must of filled your head cavity with buzzard vomit and/or HOG SNOT.

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • atechgeek
      Posted on September 29, 2011 at 12:24pm

      @LibertariansUnite : Wow .. really .. do you just spew whatever pops into you so called “brain” ?

      Report Post »  
  • Black Manta
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:13pm

    Sharia Law is forced on them humans to make them affraid of converting to Christianity…They wanna keep them as far from Jesus as possible…Satan has been working since the Garden…

    Report Post » Black Manta  
  • Lion420
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:10pm

    Muslims…please, join the 21st sentury. Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look? Are you really that afraid of women? Really? Really?

    Report Post » Lion420  
  • Dug2Dark
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:05pm

    Wow, is it just me, or does the saudi minister of labor, look just like barry’s boy, david axelhole????????????

    Report Post » Dug2Dark  
  • ares338
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:04pm

    Another glowing example of the religion of peace!

    Report Post » ares338  
  • americaneagle
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:03pm

    You should never drive in a Halloween costume. Some things just dont translate to American life and feel sorry for these poor women.

    Report Post » americaneagle  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:03pm

    How do I let those lovely ladies know that they’d be welcome to drive in our country? :)

    Report Post »  
    • azjeff1963
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:30pm

      they are already here….and demanding their right as slutmuslums…or havent you been paying attention?

      Report Post » azjeff1963  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:03pm

    No surprises from that part of the world. Just a backward, hateful, cult-ridden society. I sure wish we could drill here and be done with those yahoos.

    Report Post »  
    • Wayne
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 8:19pm

      Coming to a city near you, a lot of Americans want them here. Once these women live under Muslim law they will regert it. I don’t thank they should be allowed in the USA at all.

      Report Post »  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:03pm

    America-hating, dope-smoking, staple-faced, Christ-ophobic, ritalin-popping Liberals will embrace sharia law with open arms because there is a self-loathing undercurrent to their psychosis.

    America has elevated women’s liberties while muslim nations trample them.

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • Dug2Dark
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:02pm

    When, When, When, are the Ladies of the world going to stand up for the women of the muddled east. It’s bad enough that her cl*t has been removed, now she still gets 10 lashes on top of that.

    Report Post » Dug2Dark  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:01pm

    They are still afraid they might get in a car and either run over the guys – or leave the country.

    Report Post »  
  • SREGN
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:00pm

    Why don’t they just vote in people who will let them drive?

    Report Post »  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:10pm

      they would if they could, they have just now got the right to vote, but you can bet they will have to vote somewhere away from the men, and their vote want even count, soon to be that way here if we don’t watch out, this administration loves the muslim ways and when the new world order is here, we will all be screwed and the women will, they will just have too cook,clean and have babies., not my belief that is the muslim belief.

      Report Post »  
  • capecodsully
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:00pm

    Is that all? One would think you would get your hands chopped off so you could never touch a steering wheel again. How about the right foot, does she get to keep that also? These guys must be getting soft.

    Report Post »  
  • MightyMouth
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 4:57pm

    I‘m sure she was ’askin for it’. Let’s move along please…

    Report Post » MightyMouth  
    • On The Bayou
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:04pm

      Can you send your old lady over there to have her beaten as needed and then get her shipped back home?

      Report Post » On The Bayou  
    • ZAP
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:42pm

      My old lady acts up she`s getting more than 10

      Report Post » ZAP  
  • LibertariansUnite
    Posted on September 27, 2011 at 4:53pm

    Does it matter? Blazers just wanna kill every Arab anyways.

    The article should say “10 Lashings to little for Arab Women!”

    Report Post » LibertariansUnite  
    • randy
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 4:55pm

      No……
      The headline should read

      The article should say “10 Lashings too little for Arab Women!”
      NOT
      The article should say “10 Lashings to little for Arab Women!”

      Learn how to spell moron

      Report Post » randy  
    • LibertariansUnite
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 4:59pm

      Cool spelling attack bro.

      Report Post » LibertariansUnite  
    • Ookspay
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 4:59pm

      No, not ALL of them… Sheesh, get it right troll… “Mom bring me a Pepsi”!

      Report Post » Ookspay  
    • commonsenseguy
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:00pm

      you are a f–king idiot !!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • LibertariansUnite
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:03pm

      Honestly, I can intellectually destroy about anyone’s arguments on this forum. I have previously, but I realize that most of you are brain washed war mongering neo cons.

      You will never change.

      :)

      LibertariansUnite  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:04pm

      I was talking to mother the other day about how the right to vote for Saudi women was a good thing. We both agreed that it might take 2 or 3 generations for the full, positive effect for this to be felt, but we both thought that it was now trending in the right direction.

      Women‘s suffrage in America didn’t not change things right away either.
      An analogy comes to mind. The first is from the movie “Force 10 from Navarone”. The commandos set of explosives in a damn & nothing appears to happens. One commando gets upset & the other says give it time. A few minutes later they are running for their lives from a collapsing damn.

      You might remember that the World Trade Center was hit & some people with Usama were upset that the towers did not fall. Usuma said be patient. the towers came down.

      If the voting continues & becomes “tradition” I don’ see this being reversed & it will lead to better days.

      Report Post »  
    • TH30PH1LUS
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:05pm

      That would stir nicely into your Janeane Garafolo koolaide, wouldn’t it?

      Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:09pm

      LibertariansUnite
      The female relatives of this conservative all have college degrees (10). Are you projecting your liberal fantasies onto conservatives again?

      Report Post »  
    • Mtroom
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:09pm

      So glad you know me so well that you can speak for me….You really just want to start a bickering match so bad, don’t you? Get over your self righteousness…It’s a shame she got beat…But you break the law of said country, you pay the price…I don’t want anyone dead, but those choices are not up to me…Stop baiting, I’ve seen to much of it from this administration …Your statement is just as bad as what you claim blaze readers are…More double talk.

      Report Post » Mtroom  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:13pm

      Your head is where the sun don’t shine

      Report Post »  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:25pm

      @sunite:
      The moment you bring up the word neo-con, you don’t have to say another word.
      Honestly.

      Report Post »  
    • randy
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:32pm

      @LIBERTARIANSUNITE

      WHAT?

      “I can intellectually destroy about anyone’s arguments”

      How about you try that again? LOL

      Gee….. Having problems spelling and making sense at the same time?

      Report Post » randy  
    • qpwillie
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 5:37pm

      LibertariansUnite,

      LOL!! You couldn’t “intellectually destroy” my pet hermit crab.

      Report Post » qpwillie  
    • jenk99
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 6:14pm

      To go a step further than QPWillie…

      You couldn’t intellectually destroy my pet rock.

      This is fun, what other pets can we throw into the mix?

      Report Post »  
    • LibertariansUnite
      Posted on September 27, 2011 at 7:14pm

      Blaze, Do not delete my post this time.

      The issue here, that has not been addressed I might add, is that the “Blazers” say things like “We hate all Muslims”, “Islam is the religion of hate” and “ We need to go to war with Iran”. Yet then we get a post like this suggesting we should feel sorry for Arab women.

      But using the “Blazers” logic, why should we? People always suggest that Muslims are evil and we should kill them first. Then why would we care about their women? If we cared about their women so much, why do “Blazers” advocate to kill their fathers and brothers with bullets and bombs in the name of “peace and democracy”?

      Your logic is flawed, if you truly believe these people shouldn’t even live, then why pity them? UNLESS the logic behind your hate filled argument of killing them all is non-existent.

      My favorite part is this argument always comes from the “arm chair patriots”, the ones screaming for blood and murder, and they have never served in the military.

      If we cared as much about abolishing the Federal Reserve as we did killing Arabs, our economy might actually be going through a healing process.

      Report Post » LibertariansUnite  
    • LibertariansUnite
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:05am

      Surprise Surprise, no one on the Blaze could rebuttal this argument.

      I am sure after this comment someone will post something like..

      “CUZ yer too stoopid to rebuttal idiot dummy face!”

      Report Post » LibertariansUnite  
    • thegodfather
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 10:32am

      Yes…you are correct. Muslims are evil and should be killed.

      and your point is….?

      Report Post » thegodfather  

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