Manal Al Sharif driving in Saudi Arabia (with English subtitles)

For more on this case, follow @jessradio on Twitter.

Original translation by @FreeBenghazi, with help from Eman Al Nafjan
(@Saudiwoman) and Errafat Thabet (@samwaddah). Video production by Maisie Cohen. Co-ordinated by Jess Hill (@jessradio).

On Thursday May 19, Manal al-Sharif, a 32-year-old IT consultant, got in her car and drove through the streets of Khobar in Saudi Arabia. Sharif had a passenger with her -- Wajeha al-Huwaider, a women's rights activist. Al-Huwaider filmed al-Sharif driving, and the two women talked about the limitations they face as women in the Gulf kingdom.

Manal al-Sharif uploaded the video on YouTube, and before it was taken down four days later, it attracted over 600,000 views.

The following day, al-Sharif drove again, this time with her family. The car was stopped by traffic police, and arrested al-Sharif and her brother. They were released later that evening.

Around 2am the following morning, religious police arrived at al-Sharif's house, and arrested her again. Saudi authorities say she will be detained until June 5. Amnesty International has declared al-Sharif a 'prisoner of conscience', and is calling for her immediate release. (http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/commen...)

• Category

  News & Politics

[Sarah Winters]

LikerOfThings - shut the fuck up and know your role you bum bitch motherfucker! A woman's lot in life is not at home taking care of children. A woman can do anything she wants with her life, pursue her education, a career and she most definitely deserves equality and her independence! Thank God the Almighty that I live in America where I am free and I am equal. Stone you to death bitch!

[TazzyZee14]

I can't even begin to imagine why a woman should be STONED to death just for operating a vehicle. A device used as an alternative to walking. Or can women in Saudi not walk either? Nothing in the Qur'an says a woman is not allowed to leave the home. That would be a depressing ass life. I'm sure any man would go crazy stuck in his home. It's no different for women. They're not slaves meant to serve men. You're not fucking royalty. It's disgusting that you treat women like trash.

[Vandwo]

Seems some folks cant understand there are way to different culture of theirs So going there and spanking there asses and place them your way of life i s not always the best way. I respect everyone way of life and i dont place my nose in other people culture and understandings. .

[AkubraBromptonGirl]

I read your story in Glamour magazine. All my respect. Well done!!! You are a strong fearless woman and all of Britain and Europe stands behind you. You are really cool xx

[TazzyZee14]

I'll end this rant with a question; if a woman is dying & is rushed to the ER where she is operated on by a male trauma surgeon, whom she ends up talking to, should she be punished? Allow definitely allows for situations like these. Also, you must be one of those bigots who thinks women shouldn't be educated or work (even though statistics show women do a lot better in school). You are clearly very obviously not a muslim, so you're beliefs on MY freedoms do not matter to me. Just kill yourself.

[TazzyZee14]

And furthermore, you're saying women who even speak to a man, including in EMERGENCIES like to a doctor to a cop, should be harshly punished? I believe Allah allows us to so we shouldn't be punished because YOU don't agree with it. And what about the men? Should a man not deserve the same punishment as the woman? In Allah's eyes, both their crimes are equal. Allah is not sexist like you are. Gender doesn't determine severity of punishment. If both commit adultery, both have sinned.

[TazzyZee14]

And just so you know, I've seen plenty of women who are stronger and more capable than a lot of men. Just because a man is born a male does not automatically make him dominant and more capable of defending himself. Or should men with feminine bodies also stay home and not drive? And what the fuck do you mean men have penises and "urges?" That is the most retarded thing I have ever heard. You can control urges. Women shouldn't have freedom because you can't keep it in your pants?

[TazzyZee14]

Excuse you, but just because a woman goes out or drives a car doesn't mean she's "getting herself into trouble." Just because a woman is born a woman she has to stay locked up in a house with no life while men go around and have fun? Men can get in trouble by going out too. More often than not, a man is the one getting into trouble because guess what? Women are generally smarter than men. How would a woman get to work? The bus? That's safer than driving?

[nnnnnnnn400]

i wish woman in my country don't drive :(

[fasogeeek]

Well done!! I don't understand why you have to go through all of that when you can get your own car and drive it. InshaAllah it will happen soon, there is nothing that prohibits it in Islam, Aisha the prophet's wife used to lead a whole army, so what is driving compared to that? Stand up for yourselves women, Islam doesn't allow this!

[LikerOfThings]

Women need to be protected, we cant just let them go all over the place and get in all kind of trouble. Women who drive/talk to men outside their family (that includes policemen + emergency services etc) deserve the harshest of punishments to deter other women from putting themselves in such danger. Yes, we men have penises and urges, women need to be protected from them.

[Sami Alotaibi]

Oh my god . You are making me feel like I grew up in country where very man are stupid ...

if your believe that every women caught driving should be stoned ( if you really mean it ) then you are really stupid my friend .

every thing should be done according to the teaching of islam, and there is nothing in islam says what you are saying

I don't think there is problem with women driving except the time ...

there is many things more important we should deal with it first ...