Two Female Drivers Will be Tried in a Saudi Terror Court

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Mideast Saudi Arabia Women Driving
This Nov. 30, 2014, image made from video released by Loujain al-Hathloul, shows her driving toward the United Arab Emirates–Saudi Arabia border before her arrest on Dec. 1, 2014, in Saudi ArabiaLoujain al-Hathloul—AP
By Helen Regan

A Saudi terrorism court will try two women who were detained after defying a ban on female drivers in the kingdom.

Activists say their cases have been transferred to a specialized court that deals with terrorism cases because of comments the two made on social media, the BBC reports.

Twenty-five-year-old Loujan al-Hathloul was arrested on Dec. 1 after attempting to drive to Saudi Arabia from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). And 33-year-old Maysa al-Amoudi, a Saudi journalist who lives in the UAE, was also arrested as she arrived border.

“This is not an isolated case,” Saudi activist Hala al-Dosari told the BBC. “This is just a way to really curb the momentum of campaigning and [the] engagement of citizens.”

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that bans women from driving.

[BBC]

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Write to Helen Regan at helen.regan@timeasia.com