Saudi Arabia agrees to let women drive

Saudi Arabia finally capitulated to long-standing international pressure Tuesday and agreed to allow women to begin driving, starting next summer. Hard-liners warned against the move, arguing it would corrupt society and lead to sin. But Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that bans women behind the wheel. It also places severe restrictions on women’s movements and participation in public life. Women only gained the right to vote and run for office in late 2015. Earlier this month, the kingdom’s rulers allowed women to enter the country’s main sports stadium in Riyadh for National Day celebrations. U.S. officials applauded the move, with State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert calling it a “great step in the right direction for that country.” Human rights advocates note Saudi women still have a long way to go before they gain equality with men. In the past, women protested their oppression by defying the driving ban in coordinated efforts, posting photos of their excursions on social media.