Saudi woman, sentenced for driving, pardoned
September 29th, 2011 - 7:52 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Sep 29 (IANS) A Saudi woman, who was sentenced to 10 lashes for defying the kingdom’s prohibition on women driving, has been spared the punishment after King Abdullah intervened.
On Tuesday, Shaima Justaneyah was found guilty in Jeddah of driving without government permission. Her case caused worldwide outrage, Daily Mail reported.
But due to King Abdullah’s intervention Wednesday, the woman got reprieve from likely public flogging against the religious edict.
Justaneyah had earlier told Arab News: “I cannot think straight because of what I have had to go through.”
Saudi Arabia is the only country that bans women - including foreigners - from driving. Families are expected to employ drivers, or rely on male relatives to drive them around.
Earlier this week, King Abdullah, 87, announced that women would be given the right to vote for the first time and run in the country’s 2015 local elections.
- Saudi court convicts men, women for mingling at a party - Jun 23, 2010
- First women-only call centre opens in Saudi Arabia - Dec 25, 2010
- UN chief hails voting rights for Saudi women - Sep 30, 2011
- Saudi women with attractive eyes may be forced to cover them - Nov 19, 2011
- Saudi Arabia detains woman for defying driving ban - May 23, 2011
- Saudi Arabia to launch official TV, radio for fatwa - Aug 21, 2010
- Saudi Arabia educating its women for jobs: Louise Khurshid - Oct 24, 2010
- Saudi woman freed after serving over 6 months in jail for disobeying father - Oct 26, 2010
- Saudi king to allow only official fatwas - Aug 13, 2010
- Saudi woman who defied driving ban killed in accident - Nov 22, 2010
- Saudi woman held for defying driving ban - May 22, 2011
- Saudi Arabia distances itself from WikiLeaks expose - Dec 01, 2010
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to enhance cooperation - Aug 10, 2011
- Saudi judge mulls 'spine for a spine' punishment - Aug 20, 2010
- Voting rights for Saudi women mooted - Jun 07, 2011
Tags: arab news, daily mail, foreigners, government permission, jeddah, king abdullah, lashes, local elections, london, male relatives, outrage, prohibition, public flogging, religious edict, reprieve, saudi arabia, saudi woman, shaima