A Saudi woman who dared to drive | Manal al-Sharif

There's no actual law against women driving in Saudi Arabia. But it's forbidden. Two years ago, Manal al-Sharif decided to encourage women to drive by doing so -- and filming herself for YouTube. Hear her story of what happened next.

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[ZaraOver]

No one will understand the struggle of Saudi women but Saudi women.

[MollyTheMoonchild]

To be considered a traitor just for encouraging the women to drive! I hope each and every one of them Saudi women get out there, drive around, fly!!

[srd]

Saudi Arabia just announced they will let women drive. So proud of you, Manal!! This is huge!!

[Shannyrulzeva]

I don't understand why Saudi Arabia does not allow women to drive???? why? it has absolutely no basis in Islam...

[unitedwestand]

Every woman in Saudi Arabia should drive everyday... They don't have enough time or jails to put them in, to arrest them all... LOL when all the mens wives, mothers, sisters and daughters are in jail, they will see how ridiculous their whole system is.

[lizzy]

What an amazing, brave, courageous woman.

[safiyamohamed]

I stand with manal. Muslim women, Arab women, and all women around the world deserve equal rights, and manal is doing the right thing by standing up for the women in not just in Arabia, but everywhere. may allah reward you for your good doing Manal.

[itsmexxx]

As a Muslim I should respect Saudi Arabia but those laws aren't making me proud, prophet Mohammad will never be proud, what a shame, luckily our leader have a wise brain to make his own wise decision

[sarahalotaibi]

I'm a Saudi women and I'm proud of her!

[inesraafat]

Saudi Arabian Prince holds the seat of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of UN, isn't that just quite ironic.

[chevychase]

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi

[koreanfan]

Yeah Manal, I am going to take my rights back as you did.

[manooolh]

She has my name and has my passion too
I am proud of myself when I was fighting for her freedom :)

[soonchange]

And the men here can go everywhere in the world and do whatever they want BUT when it come to the poor woman she shouldn't go out of the house without a man what if they haven't a shit man ? The life here is difficult I can't handle more
It's not about the religion
It's about the men who make us like slaves and the strict rules on the women

[novalinnhe]

Reading through the comments here is incredible. It's astounding to see first hand that people really, genuinely believe that a woman controlling a steering wheel will immediately corrupt her, or turn her into some sort of demon. Words escape me... it's like you can put absolutely anything into a person's head, and as long as they hear and see it enough times they will genuinely believe it.

I find that terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. And this woman is phenomenal for standing up to it.

[Amenityy]

Me scrolling through the comments hoping another that student is working on a Ted talk paper for this video and posted the answers on the comment section

[gryphons.]

In her book, she references a case where a woman had to watch her father die because she was the only one at home with him (no other men were present) and she couldn't drive him to the hospital. Unbelievable.

[seframoin]

Living in Saudi from past 9 yrs...dependent mobility is a big issue...though lot of things a v good compared to other countries as a Muslim its much easier to fallow my din but i cant deny the negatives. I feel handicapped for always depending on my husband to travel from a place to another.(disturbing his schedule of working hrs.) Also the big Saudi society who so called follower of sharia in my opinion are racist...more than being a good human one needs to be Saudi by origin to be privileged to have a life there. they think only appropriate jobs for women is to teach or  care takers as nurses n doctors....n after a long struggle now from past few yrs they have added few more opening to job market for "Saudi women" only... As Muslims they must not deny the freedom of every individual who lives in their country to achieve a better  life.there are good number of expat  women who are talented n capable to live better but are handicapped. women should be permitted to drive n pursue a career of their choice if they are capable to fit in. 

[imankhairoun]

I'm with Manal. I'm a muslim girl too and I think that all the women in the world can drive and is not haram. At the women can drive it's like have liberty and feel better with our selves. If you're a man, put in our faces and understand us.

[ElleGhiniEpperson]

Well done Manal, The journey of a thousand miles starts with a short drive down the street.