BBC Learning English
Words in the News
Saudi women campaign for the
right to drive
20 September 2013
_____________________________________________________
Saudi women activists have launched a new campaign for the right to drive. Women
aren't allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, although there's no formal law banning
them. Sebastian Usher reports for the BBC:
In a sign of how pervasive online social networks have become in Saudi Arabia, the new
campaign has been started on Twitter. It's the idea of the activist, Eman al Nafjan,
who's set things in motion with a simple message saying that Saudi women will
express their feelings about driving on October the 26th.
She's told the BBC the hope is that women will come out en masse to drive on that day.
She says the campaign's meant to be a grassroots movement open to all Saudis - men
as well as women - to show their support. Hundreds of messages backing the campaign
have already been posted. Well-known Saudis are due to give their public backing, while
videos of women driving will be posted when they emerge.
Women activists say the issue of being allowed to drive is key to their gaining other
rights, such as freedom from what many see as oppressive male guardianship. They
argue that there's an irony in the ban on driving as it means that women must rely on
male drivers, thereby spending large amounts of time with a man outside their family. In
other circumstances, this would be condemned as a serious transgression of the
country's deeply conservative interpretation of Islam.
Those who oppose women driving do so on the grounds that it would violate that deeply
traditional code. In public, there've been some signs that Saudi officials may be softening
their line on women driving. That's a change from several years ago when women were
arrested or lost their jobs for taking to the wheel as part of similar campaigns. But
Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that the ban might be lifted soon are so far
nothing more than that.
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
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bbclearningenglish.com
Vocabulary and definitions
pervasive noticeable everywhere; becoming widespread
activist person who takes part in activities that hope to
achieve political or social change
set things in motion started
en masse together as a group
grassroots ordinary people in a group or country, not its leaders
backing support
oppressive unfair or cruel
guardianship legal control and responsibility
irony opposite situation to what you normally expect
transgression breaking of the law or moral rules
violate break or go against (a law or tradition)
taking to the wheel driving a car
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/09/130920_witn_saudi_women_story.shtml
Related story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20469486
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2013
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com