By Baroness Smith of Basildon - 26th October 2011
Baroness Smith of Basildon calls on the government not to recognise Saudi Arabian driving licences in the UK until their government allows both genders to drive.
In July Shaima Jastini, was found guilty of driving without permission in Juddah. In the months leading up to July, women with international driving licences, national driving licences not being available to women in Saudi Arabia, had been testing the system that forbids them to drive and posted their journeys on YouTube.
Previously, the authorities seemed to have been content with pulling the women over and getting them to sign a declaration that they wouldn’t drive again. Even though it was reported in 2008 that Saudi Arabia was to lift its ban on women drivers this clearly hasn’t happened although a government official at the time said that an announcement would be made "soon".
So when Shaima Jastini was charged in July no one anticipated the severity of her punishment. We can only imagine how terrified she must have been when her sentence of ten lashes was announced, and the relief when it was overturned by King Abdullah.
Only the day before, the King had announced that women would be allowed to stand in municipal elections, but although he is understood to be a reformer, there is no doubt of the power of the conservatives including the clergy.
Today (26th October), in the House of Lords I shall ask the Government what consideration it has given to the recognition of Saudi Arabian driving licences in the UK.
It makes sense that countries should recognise each other's driving licences for visitors. It is generally a reciprocal arrangement that works well. But I challenge a system that allows the recognition of a Saudi driving licence (which is only open to men) for visitors to the UK.
My view is that we should recognise Saudi Arabian driving licences as we currently do, but not while the ability to hold one is determined by gender, and only when they agree to recognise driving licences for all women, whatever their nationality.
To do otherwise is a betrayal of those courageous women who are prepared to risk not just the condemnation of the conservatives but to be sentenced by the courts to punishment that wouldn't even be legal in the UK.
Angela Smithis a former member of Parliament for Basildon. She was raised to the peerage in 2010 and sits on the Labour benches.
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