Saudi woman defies driving ban, husband fined: report

A 23-year-old Saudi woman has been caught defying the Kingdom’s ban on female driving by getting behind the wheel of her husband’s car for which the couple was detained and the man was fined.

The couple were detained by police after the woman was caught driving on Thursday in the Qatif district in Eastern Province, the Saudi Gazette reported.

Police made the the couple sign a pledge not to repeat the offence before they were released on bail.

The man, 28, was fined Saudi Riyals 900 (about Rs 15,000) and his car was impounded for seven days for allowing his wife to drive, the report said.

A traffic violation was registered against the woman for driving without a license.

There is a de facto ban on female drivers in Saudi Arabia.

Women in Saudi Arabia have been defying their nation’s de facto ban on driving by getting behind the steering wheel.

Over the past six months, a campaign for change has gathered pace on social media.

The movement for driving rights began in mid-2011 but has not changed the law.