Saudi Arabia allows women to drive

Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], September 27 (ANI): Saudi Arabia is all set to end the law, which made the Gulf nation the only country in the world to forbid female drivers, allowing women to drive.

In a post on Twitter, the official account of the kingdom's Foreign Ministry wrote, "Saudi Arabia allows women to drive."

"Saudi Arabia's King Salman has issued a historic royal decree granting driving licenses for women in the kingdom," the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news channel reported.

The change was also announced on state television and in a simultaneous media event in Washington.

Following this, the news was celebrated widely on Twitter.

Campaigners had earlier, for many years, argued that women should be allowed to drive, saying that "it makes virtual prisoners out of women, who do not have a male family member or chauffeur to drive them around."

The movement gained prominence with the rise in power of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a 32-year-old son of the king, who laid out a far-reaching plan to reform the kingdom's economy and society. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI