Saudi female driving activists face 5 years in jail

Saudi women publicly campaigning for an end to a ban on female driving could face up to five years in prison in line with existing laws in the conservative Gulf Kingdom, a newspaper reported on Monday.

The penalty is included in laws combating information crime issued under a Royal decree a few years ago, Arar Arabic language daily said.

It quoted legal sources as saying women inciting females to drive cars in the kingdom would face electronic crime charges.

“This sort of crime is punishable under the Royal decree on fighting information crimes…those found to be involved in such crimes face a maximum five years in prison and are fined SRthree million,” the paper said.

It noted that Interior Ministry Spokesman Major General Mansour Turki warned this week that those caught inciting women to drive would punished in line with those laws.

Saudi women were due to take to the streets to drive cars on Saturday to press for an end to the ban but only a handful of women joined the campaign following a stern warning by the Ministry of Interior and massive police patrols on roads.

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