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Saudi Female Driver Won't Be Lashed

Saudi King Abdullah overturns court ruling

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 28, 2011 6:54 PM CDT

(AP) – Saudi King Abdullah has overturned a court ruling sentencing a Saudi woman to be lashed 10 times for defying the kingdom's ban on female drivers, a government official said today. The official declined to elaborate on the monarch's decision. A Saudi court yesterday found Shaima Jastaina guilty of violating the driving ban, and sentenced her to 10 lashes. The verdict took Saudi women by surprise, coming just after King Abdullah promised to protect women's rights and decreed that women would be allowed to participate in municipal elections in 2015.

Saudi women walk out of a shopping mall.
Saudi women walk out of a shopping mall.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
George-Jetson
Sep 29, 2011 1:09 PM CDT
Most religions treat woman like second class people. But beating woman for any reason is medieval. Why they deny woman the right to drive or vote baffles me.
KatyAtl90
Sep 29, 2011 7:31 AM CDT
A step in the right direction, even if it is still a long way from justice.  
bewilderbeast
Sep 29, 2011 6:55 AM CDT
Oh, THANK YOU your esteemed royal highness, that is SO kind of you. Now how about ABOLISHING that stupid freakin' law? Huh? Why does it still hang over women, leaving them to take a chance on your mood to decide on whether they will be lashed or not? "Royalty!" What bulldust. Its a dictatorship, that's all. And you know its evil because he's Dubya's friend.

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Saudi Arabia • King Abdullah • women's rights • driving

 
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