Husband fined after Saudi woman is caught driving in kingdom

The 23-year-old woman is caught behind wheel in the Qatif district in Eastern Province and the couple is forced to sign a pledge not to repeat the offence.

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RIYADH // A Saudi woman defied the kingdom’s ban on female driving last week, getting behind the wheel of her husband’s car before police detained the couple and fined the man.

The 23-year-old woman was caught driving on Thursday in the Qatif district in Eastern Province, the Saudi Gazette reported, adding police forced the couple to sign a pledge not to repeat the offence.

They were released on bail and the traffic department fined her 28-year-old husband 900 riyals (Dh880) and impounded his car for seven days.

The woman also received a penalty for driving without a licence.

Women’s rights activists make frequent calls to challenge the ban, the only one of its kind in the world.

Some of those who do challenge the ban post videos of themselves driving online. Few have been arrested.

* Agence France-Presse