A mass protest has erupted across Saudi Arabia after Manal al-Sherif was detained for driving and creating a Facebook page Teach me how to drive so I can protect myself.
Saudi women will drive on June 17 regardless of the ban.
“On June 17th, 2011, we women in Saudi Arabia, from all nationalities, will start driving our cars by ourselves,” Manal al-Sherif wrote in an e-mail about the Women2Drive campaign.
“We are not here to break the law or challenge the authorities. We are here to claim one of our simplest rights. We have driving licences and we will abide by the traffic laws. We are here to walk the talk and just do it. It’s about time!”
Manal al-Sherif writes on her blog:
1- There will be no gathering or demonstrations. Each woman that wants to participate should just get in her car and go about her daily business without the driver.
2- Only women who have valid driving licenses from other countries are to drive.
3- That there are volunteers who will teach other women to drive until the government sets up an official system for women to obtain local driving licenses
4- Everyone should drive with their safety belts on and drive carefully.
5- Women who drive are encouraged to videotape it and upload it to Youtube.
