By John D. Sutter, CNN
(CNN) - CNN iReport is asking people all over the world to give up driving for a day - and document it - in support of women in Saudi Arabia, who aren't allowed to drive because of religious rules in that conservative Middle Eastern kingdom.
Go to the iReport assignment page to learn how to participate.
Here's an example video that already came in from the Philippines:
CNN plans to stitch some of the best videos together into a highlight reel that will be published online and may be shown on TV. The effort comes as a group of Saudi women, for the second year, are planning to protest Saudi's driving ban by getting behind the wheel and taking to the streets on Friday. The Women2Drive movement asks the women to upload their road trips to YouTube.
On June 17 of last year, dozens of women took to the streets in similar demonstrations.
Manal al-Sharif, whose driving video sparked the protest, was arrested and detained for her involvement.
Here's a profile I wrote after meeting al-Sharif this year. Perhaps the most powerful thing about her story (besides the fact that The Backstreet Boys had a hand in her transforming from Osama bin Laden supporter to human rights activist) is she believes that if Saudi women stand up and take control of their rights, the rest of the country will follow suit. "When women break that taboo and they're not afraid to drive that car by herself - that's it," she said. "Now she has the guts to speak up for herself and take action."
She's encouraged also by the movement's support outside of Saudi Arabia.
Check out a 2011 video of her driving below:
Out of fear for her safety, al-Sharif says she won't participate in the protests on Friday. But the protests are expected to continue in the spirit of that widely circulated video she uploaded last summer.
It's unclear how large the demonstrations will become, but you can follow the conversation about the driving women on CNN, iReport and on the Twitter hashtag #Women2Drive. The group also asks people who support the campaign to change their Twitter avatars to this photo. And Amnesty International also is collecting photos of people who support the driving campaign.
Saudi women have been pushing for the right to drive since the early 1990s, but with little luck. The Saudi kingdom, which enforces a conservative interpretation of Islamic law, also bans women from making formal decisions without the permission of a male guardian. Women don't have the right to vote or hold public office in Saudi Arabia, although that is expected to change in 2015. Earlier this week, the country's London embassy announced it would let women compete in the Olympics for the first time.
Organizers say the Women2Drive movement stands in for many women's rights issues in the country.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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I should inconvenience myself because a bunch of backward sand ni***gers don't let their women drive? Yeah I'll get right on that.
hmmm – takes one to know one. what a man.
Don't you have NASCAR to watch or your step-daughter's niece's sister in law to ogle? Hick.
I'm pretty sure Billy is not from the south–the terminology and sentence structure is wrong.
And how would the sentence structure indicate that, h'm? Perhaps you can translate it to the "proper" nuance for the south.
Please to be excusing my previous stupid comment.
I have no idea what I say.
don't you have a KKK meeting to go to?
Hence the term ugly American.
Maybe Billy is not American but some islamist playing propaganda games?
Gee, Ian. If you really want to go to such lengths to defend him, why not just call him a Martian. Then I guess he'd really be misunderstood and we can't relate to him.
Class act, Billy Bob. Back to your pick up truck – and don't forget to get it off the blocks and put some tires on it beforehand.
Yup. 'n watchout fer da dogs sleepin unner der Bubba!
Seriously, you have a mental condition right?
Why are all of you lunkheads attacking Billy? He's just pointing out the stupidity of doing something in response to a problem that has absolutely no possibility of helping the problem.
No, I don't believe he articulated anything like that. I believe he said there was no reason to inconvenience himself due to the choice made by people of another ethnicity whom he distinguished with a particulary abhorrent racial slur.
While Billy deserves a good heckling, it's just as bad to stereotype his behavior as being related to whether or not he is a poor southerner who drives a truck.
No, it's not. Intolerance of the intolerant, while seemingly a paradox, is perfectly acceptable.
You are all heckling Billy but I bet most or even none of you will be giving up your car on Friday either.
Believe it or not, there are many of us who simply can't unless we might wish to take a day off of work. Public transportation is non-existent, nothing is within walking distance, and nothing is designed for bicycle or for foot traffic if it comes to that.
Wow. Stupidity at it's finest.
lets just ban women drivers from driving on Friday's. I bet that'll clear up a lot of traffic issues here in the states.
Seems to be more comments about Billy than the article itself. The only time I every heard that particular term was from another ex-pat while I was living in Jeddah. So my guess, he may actually know more about the place than the average Joe.
I always heard that it wasn't against the law but it was against the custom. And it affected all women in the Kingdom, not just Saudi nationals. It made me popular when the girls were invited to a party and needed a ride.
If giving the women the freedom to drive would have real impact, it would probably be a good thing. But I wouldn't hold my breath. It is more about male domination of their society than it is about the women getting in their car and driving to the mall to buy their underwear from another women instead of a male clerk.
I dunno, sounds like something them rag heads need to figure out on their own. Why does the world need to get in on it. It's none of our business.
Towel Heads is what Towel Heads do.
amazing what a tolerant country we've become. where are you guys fom? under rocks???
the goog ole south
Again, how do we know you are anything but some Islamist.
Why assume this person is from the South or even American. Anyone from any country can be on these boards. It's people like you, always assuming the worst about America and Americans, that are bringing this country down.
Oops! Another Billy Bob found him one of them thar computy things and thought to type. And Ian's paranoia wants to jump to his defense with red herrings. Go BillyBod, Go Ian!
Actually, to be fair, I don't know if Ian is defending billy so much as defending southerners. Although Ian has other problems let's call him on his actual ignorant and bigoted statements and not on the ones that we assume are ignorant and bigoted.
kaditroi
When an islamist goes to such great length to deny something, it usually is right.
Billy is an islamist propagandist and you, you are probably his sidekick.
Solution: Total elimination of Islam. Result: women driving and peace on earth.
we need a anti-Islam day world wide. not a no driving day. ISLAM IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM and must be stop at all cost.
of course Islam is the prblem. another 'under the rock' mentality. what a world we live in...
Stop bashing Islam. Enough is enough. Muslims to not bash Catholics because priests abuse boys. Women not able to drive in Saudi is a local tradition and has nothing to do with Islam
catholic priest sleep with boys? when did this start?
Muslim imams play with little boys all the time.
Are you kidding? Everyone bashes Catholiicism except Catholics. In fact, you're degrading Muslims for even linking the two religions in any way...
Islam is not the problem. I am a Muslim and there is no such thing in Islam. It's all caused by some stupid old traditions and customs. Evidence, women are driving in other Islamic countries. I am also a believer that Islam will rule again over traditions and that women in Saudi Arabia will drive cars soon
)
Actually....YOU are more of the problem than Islam. Because you are ignorant. You will find something else to be ignorant about if not Islam.
All relgions are the problem. They all propogate ignorance and intolerance.
Finally, some one with some real common sense. Way to go UncleM. Wish I'd said it first.
Islam must be eliminated for there ever to be peace. The religion is completely incompatible with equal rights, democracy and justice. I would love to see a 'No Islam Day!"
You'd have to get rigd of Christianity, too. Another violent, mysogynistic religion with no moral or practical value.
Violent?? You FAIL
Agreed. That is the problem. Willing to be most of the people bashing "Billy" (and Billy himself) are Catholic/Christian, but didn't hesitate to through out the "n*gger" word. typical tolerance from the most tolerant of all religious folks, Christian America.
Of course I forget to mention how we muslims keep bashing Christians, Jews, Hindus.
If I dont acknowledge we muslims do that, then it didnt happen.
Simple? Yes!
As a former colleague ti Manal AL Sharif in Saudi Aramco i must
Say she was very clear in wanting an assaylum to facilitate her living abroad without worrie about Visa. she was going to do whatever it tskes, even if that entailed playing the role of an activist and faking a call for women's right.. Obviously she's on track.
Yeah sure.
I'll tell you what. I'll give up driving on Friday if I the Saudis promise to erect a large monument in their capital in honor of the 3000 people killed on 9/11, because as we now now most of the hijackers came from that country.
Ummm, okay. First off, you don't know anything about what you're talking about. If I recall correctly, weren't we so hell bent and focused on Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran for the longest time? Saudi Arabia isn't a part of any of those countries nor does it include any. That's like saying Florida equals Michigan.
Second, the WOMEN of Saudi Arabia are treated so badly it is insane. The lengths the girls will go in Saudi Arabia to get an education is astonishing while here in America we have kids skipping school all the time. Women in Saudi Arabia are treated like property and are required to have a male guardian. They have to wear the clothes that cover everything except their eyes and hands. They cannot drive. Also it is ridiculously hard for a girl to get a job in Saudi Arabia, even if they are much better than any of the guys.
I'm not defending Saudi Arabia and saying they are much more amazing than we are or any problems they have caused should be absolved. I'm pointing out that you discriminate them entirely (just because they are in the middle east) and you feel as though every single person in the middle east is a clone of the other since there is apparently no difference between men, women or even other countries in the middle east.
Maybe we, as America, should make a huge statue to honor the lives lost and blood spilled all in the name of oil.
Ummm, 15 of the 19 hijackers were citizens of Saudi Arabia. You're welcome.
I'm a woman from Saudi Arabia and I am against what happened in 9/11. I know deep inside me that one day, I will be behind the wheels..!
And, we should erect a huge statute in front of your house because Timothy McVeight conducted the Oklahome bombing and that makes all Americans guilty too....ignorance is a wonderful thing....Some people are so dumb it hurts....
I love to talk shyatt all the time.
Join me and see how good you feel.
I will not give up driving on any day because I live in a free society fought and payed for with a revolution and tremendously hard work.
If Saudis want anything, they will have to fight for it.
Good for you. On your bike!
I will follow you on my tricycle.
Okay?
Please?
Ian, that is what Saudi women are currently doing. They are fighting a war to demand their rights. Not just to drive, but to do away with the Male Guardian laws that keep Saudi women from becoming full citizens.
Where are the men?
Most of these women are married, where are their partners?
Kathy is 100% correct.
Ian, yeah, why don't you go sip on your ice tea while lounging out at your pool on your property which you built, in the town that you helped build, in the country that you founded. Oh wait, doesn't that seem impossible since no one could live that long? You said that YOU paid for our country's freedom with all of your hard work. Oh, right, you mean that America did all the hard work and that you work for a living, yada yada. Well, congratulations, you were born American. Just like a good bunch of us on this board, including me, we all work for a living.
Well guess what? Over in Saudi Arabia, the women are working harder than you have EVER worked in your life as they are fighting for their freedom. But what does it matter, you're some lazy slob sitting behind a keyboard plowing through bags and bags of potato chips and boxes of pizza. Land of the fast food and home of the slobs is what we would call America if you were the role model.
It seems to me that if you believe in something so much and you are so unhappy in the USA, thennnnnnnnnnnnn why dont you go to KSA and join these women–in their fight.
Except for the help and support of France which entered the American Revolutionary War in 1778, and assisted in our victory over Britain (realized in the 1783 Treaty of Paris).
we will fight
Isn't this really a good thing? Like Asians, most women are horrible drivers and they frequently get lost, even with the use of a GPS. As I see it, the Saudis are doing themselves a gigantic favor.
I AM SAUDI GIRL AND CLEARLY I DONT WANT TO DRIVE A CAR EVER
I AM SO SOFT AND SO WEAK TO HANDLE A CAR BY MY SELF AND THIS IS MY NATURE
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE MOST BAD DRIVER IS A WOMEN AND THIS IS SO DANGERUOS ...SO LEAVE A SAUDI WOMEN ALONE FOR GOD's SAKE
Nah, that's just you. Everyone else is fine with driving.
Wow. Pathetic AND stupid. Just because YOU suck doesn't mean everyone else should suffer for it. Stay at the shallow end of the gene pool and don't pollute it with your mindless drivel.
You guys really need to learn sarcasm.
best answer here is to have as little to do with the kingdom as is possible , if they want to drive they can leave the kingdom and go to a country that is not run by a family and is not under the control of the religion of peace .
Most Saudi women "travel".
When they travel, they do not wear abayas, they cut their hair, and drive–just like normal women.
I'll be driving extra on Friday just because of this nonsense.
Me too.
islam is a crime against women, moslems and all humanity.
so you're asking me to take a day off from work? no other way to get there for me.
No way. Let them fight for their rights like women did in the states.
It is Soudi law , not Islamic law . But CNN intentionaly blamed Islam for it . Poor CNN . If west attack muslim women in this way , it create hostility . Muslim women will be different from western women . If west do not respect difference and wants to see whole world will follow west , it is totally incompatible with their freedom concept and values . West says we respect all but in reality , no respect for all culture . I just want to warn , the current role of western news media would bring so called cultural war . It is easy for Islamist to attack the position of women in west . Western people are corrupt, dishonest , abortion or Murder their child , bankruptcy , arrogant , war monger . Most powerfull tool Islamist may use is their strong family custom and moral values . Whole world know that western culture is incompatible with family custom and ensure low moral values . So West is not able to win this cultural war easily as west thinks . If west attacks by using Freedom , Islamist will attack west by using Honesty . We do not want war or hostility among people . Respect all people and specially difference . They are not invading your country . So what is your problem ? Publishing such news will not help soudi women to solve their problem , but if you cover this news in this way , it create hostility . Human life is more important than Human rights . We are shouting for stupid human rights While So many people are starving in this world . South African president married six or five times for protecting his Zolo culture . He married one time his Finance minister . A finance minister can not understand about her freedom ? So you have to be worry about her freedom while you are not interested in human life in Africa ? But western newsmedia covered the marriage in correct way that does not create hostility . But what happens for Islamic culture that you need to create hostility between Islam and west ? Why this stupid activities ? Only for protecting Zionist from muslim country 's invasion ?
Some good points but I believe women of the Islamic/Muslim world should have more freedoms to do what they want to do and be who they want to be and be able to enjoy all of the freedoms men in the islamic/Muslim world enjoy. Freedom has to start with a first step and one or two brave women like Rep Nancy Pelosi and Gabriella Giffords or Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt taking that first step. It wasnt so long ago in America that American women had to stay at home and be a household wife and were also denied the right to vote. But kudos to the likes of the Pelosis, Giffords, Parks and Roosevelts, alot has changed for the better in America and with the Arab Spring in full force, things will gradually but eventually change for women of the Islamic/Muslim world!
The emancipation of women, i.e. their liberation from religious, legal, economic, and S oppression, their access to higher education, and their escape from narrow gender roles is not easily achieved. The struggle for S equality has a long history and is likely to continue for some time. Even if it should soon be won in the industrial nations, it may well rage on in many "underdeveloped" countries.
See, I spoke on the subject without having to mention Jews.
Your turn!
Oil can buy a lot
but for a thing called equality and basic human rights you require democracy
MEDIEVAL in caps
and
certainly its not about Islam; this myth has to busted that Islam prohibits driving.
typical manipulation by the Saudi's
think their oil can buy humanity
Islam is a weird religion itrs their problem not ours If they do try to do that here Ill kick butt for sure
if more women stayed at home, (with husbands) where they belong, we would have far fewer troubles in this world.
Why should I give up driving when I just got a brand new Escalade from Mitt Romney? Then again, maybe I should because its fueled by gas from Saudi Arabia! Haha, more power to the women of the islamic world!
I give up driving at least five days a week but it isn't for these oppressed women, it is to boycott petroleum. A day without driving is a good day.
I would, but there's no mass transportation near my house and I'm medically disabled.
Bicycling isn't a commodity I can enjoy.
This is exactly what women in Saudi Arabia are facing, but they don't have the choice to drive. They are stuck unless a male relative will take them around.
Give up driving for a day, eh? And you really think that will make a difference? How naive art thou?
men should be banned from participating in this!
Whether you give up driving or not Saudi women won't drive at all costs so guys enjoy your weekend driving around your city.
I fully support anything that undermines the government of Saudi Arabia.
I'll be driving on Friday – mostly because me driving or not driving will not change hundreds or thousands of years of religious & cultural practices.
Why is it that the United States is so friendly with Saudia Arabia when SA is so intolerant of basic human rights? I don't get it.
oil
Your enemy is my enemy...
we have enough problems in our own country. why should we try to force our views on another country that has completely different beliefs than we do. america.. lets start minding our own business and stop pushing the american way on the rest of the world.
I completely agree with you! American values may not be ideal for them as their values may not be ideal for us! People should learn to respect different cultures, and realize that every culture has different values!
I agree biily. Your my buddy.
I should inconvenience myself because a bunch of backward sand ni***gers don't let their women drive? Yeah I'll get right on that.
The woman in the video might make a better point if she kept her hands on the wheel instead of fixing her scarf and sunglasses.
idiot!
Why are we trying to change the culture of another country? It's their culture, and I think we should respect it! I'm not against women's rights, but I think that it should be their fight not ours. I don't know a thing about Arab culture, so I will not try to change it. I don't agree with our ethnocentric view we have towards the rest of the world. I think we should respect all cultures the way they are.
I can not give respect for something that I do not respect. It would be like saying a murder needs respect, or other criminal just because they have a different view of the world due to their cultural zeitgeist. I consider that pandering. Respect is earned through actions not by default, and if a persons actions are disrespectful to another person, then how can I afford them respect in such cases.
Thank you Pancho, you really have a very supreme mind.. May God bless you.
That was the same argument for slavery. You are a brilliant man. NOT.
Does this also mean that women are not allowed to "Drive you crazy?"
Wait a minute...Friday is their religous day, so therefore most people don't drive anyhow in their country on that day. Kind of like Billy that made the first comment is probably recovering from a hang-over anyhow on Sunday. (Our non-drive day!)
symbolism is lost on those who would just as soon behead you then listen. so to the few Americans that can sill afford to drive their cars go for it. the world doesn't care what Americans think about anything anymore.
HELLO EVERYONE, THIS IS GOD, HAVING READ YOUR COMMENTS I NOW WILL BE IMPLEMENTING YOUR SUGGESTIONS. Just kidding nothing you say here matters at all.
I'm Saudi and proud to be a muslim Saudi lady.. I just wanted to clearify something.. Religion is not behind this. It's not forbidden in Islam to drive, but it's a traditional issue..
We have women driving in small villages but it's not allowed to drive in big cities for specific reasons and the most important one is protecting Saudi women from any kind of temptations.
Have a great day,
Temptation like maybe Arab men. OMG way too too too funny!
We know how to work it out without any external intervention .we need no one so please keep away.
World must ignore the situation in syria, saudi especially Arab people. They are covertly or overtly supporting the idiotic fundamental Islamic ideas and most of them are fanatic idiots. They are happy in their situation and world should not waste energy on that. Look at the people of far east ( Vietnam, Thailand, India, Cambodia), and south america. They just want to live peacefully not like this who want to overrun and impose their idea everywhere. Help peaceful people. It is a mistake that NATO supported Libya. Look at Gaza and now Egypt.
What? CNN is taking a political stance by asking everyone to protest a law in Saudi Arabia that they disagree with? I thought CNN was a new-reporting agency. Makes you wonder about their ability to report in an un-biased fashion.
I like how people think Billy up there is a 'hick' and 'intolerant'.
Aren't we talking about an entire region of people that have laws against women going outside without their husbands, and laws against women driving?
Sounds like I know which is 'intolerant'.
Besides, my buddy from Saudi calls himself Sand N*****. It's pretty funny.
Billy,
II bet your a good christian, go to church and pray to your Lord and God Jesus Christ who by the way was also a "sand ni**er"
Its hilarious how many guilty white people are posting here
Islam means "peace" IF (and this is a HUGE IF) one "submits and surrenders to your allah and way of life". Islam is a declaration of war against everything non-muslim and even "not-muslim-enough". When you take the 100's of passages in the koran as ABSOLUTE that deal with hate, intolerance and fighting, it is no wonder that Islam is the core reason for over 95% of all world wars and conflicts found today throughout the globe.
Remember...mohammad (terrorist and pedophile himself) and his followers did not go tent to tent asking arabs to become muslim...he pointed a sword at them telling them to convert, pay up (call jizya in arabic), or FIGHT/DIE!
Your actions of this religion for the last 1,200 years...especially today...PROVE what islam is all about.
Couldn't care any less than I already do about people in Saudi Arabia. Not walking on my 40 minute commute, no thanks you detached from society journalist.
It's going to be 105 degrees Fahrenheit today. I'm not giving up my AC and walking to work. (there is no public transportation in my area)
Lets just ban women drivers from driving on Friday's in support of this. I bet that'll clear up a lot of traffic issues here in the states. Female drivers are the worst...
Funny how these comment sections always devolve into vitriol about each other rather than the issue at hand. It's so American.
Actually, it's human nature, not specifically american, you ass.
Sweet! A good excuse to take the train to the bar and feel like I'm a part of something!
Islamic culture results in the mindset that women have no right to drive. Many things in Islamic culture are a lot more anti-female that. This is because Islam is a religion of misogyny. This misogyny doe's, in fact. get really extremethen that. So much that it gets much worse the women not being allowed to drive a car. An example of how terrible this Islamic anti-female mindset is that such evil,absurd and outrageous wicked things as "honor killings" take place. These "honor killings" are in reality nothing more then the cold blooded murder of young girls. There are even some internet sites exposing the heinous evil of this practice. Not only is this cruel and viscious practice common in Islamic countires but tragically this murderous custom has also come to the West due to the rise of islamic immigration. In the subject of women not being allowed do drive in some Islamic countries is just the tip of the iceburg of the many things wrong with Islam.
That whole part of the world needs to join the 21st century & stop treating women like chattel, property & servants! If that happened then we wouldn't have to make a big deal about Saudi Arabian women driving, they would be able to do what any modern woman does: make up her own mind, make her own decisions & express her own opinions!!