Saudi women can’t drive in absence of 'anti-molestation law'

Saudi Arabia does not allow women to drive cars mainly because it does not enforce effective anti-molestation laws, a prominent Islamic scholar has said.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Fowzan, a member of the Saudi human rights commission, said he is not opposed to women driving cars in the United States and other countries which enforce tough laws against molestation.

He was reacting to public online criticism to his recent comments that he does not see any problem in female driving in the US but is opposed to this in Saudi Arabia.

“Those who criticised me obviously have not read all my remarks……I said that women can drive cars in the US because it has deterrent laws against molestation,” Al Fowzan told the Islamic al Resala TV channel.

“I am still against women driving cars in Saudi Arabia because this country does not have clear laws against molestation.”