Monday, April 1, 2013

Saudi Rel. Police Now Allow Women to Ride Bikes; Permitted to Ride Them Only in Recreational Areas

A Saudi newspaper says that Saudi Arabia's religious police are now allowing women to ride motorbikes and bicycles, but only in restricted, recreational areas of the kingdom, the Drudge Report website reports today (April 1, 2013).

The Al-Yawm daily today cited an unnamed official from the powerful religious police as saying women can ride bikes in parks and recreational areas, but they have to be accompanied by a male relative and dressed in the full Islamic head-to-toe abaya.

Saudi Arabia follows an ultraconservative interpretation of Islam and bans women from driving motor vehicles. Women are still forbidden from riding bicycles in public places.

The unnamed official says women may not use the bikes for transportation purposes, but "only for entertainment" and that they should shun places where young men gather "to avoid harassment."

No comments:

Post a Comment