7/27/2019 130920110637 130920 Witn Saudi Women for PDF Elt Updated

1/2

BBC Learning EnglishWords in the NewsSaudi women campaign for theright to drive20 September 2013_____________________________________________________

Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2013Page 1 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Saudi women activists have launched a new campaign for the right to drive. Women

aren't allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, although there's no formal law banning

them. Sebastian Usher reports for the BBC:

In a sign of how pervasive online social networks have become in Saudi Arabia, the new

campaign has been started on Twitter. It's the idea of the activist, Eman al Nafjan,

who's set things in motion with a simple message saying that Saudi women will

express their feelings about driving on October the 26th.

She's told the BBC the hope is that women will come out en masse to drive on that day.

She says the campaign's meant to be a grassroots movement open to all Saudis - men

as well as women - to show their support. Hundreds of messages backing the campaign

have already been posted. Well-known Saudis are due to give their public backing, while

videos of women driving will be posted when they emerge.

Women activists say the issue of being allowed to drive is key to their gaining other

rights, such as freedom from what many see as oppressive male guardianship. They

argue that there's an irony in the ban on driving as it means that women must rely on

male drivers, thereby spending large amounts of time with a man outside their family. In

other circumstances, this would be condemned as a serious transgression of the

country's deeply conservative interpretation of Islam.

Those who oppose women driving do so on the grounds that it would violate that deeply

traditional code. In public, there've been some signs that Saudi officials may be softening

their line on women driving. That's a change from several years ago when women were

arrested or lost their jobs for taking to the wheel as part of similar campaigns. But

Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that the ban might be lifted soon are so far

nothing more than that.

7/27/2019 130920110637 130920 Witn Saudi Women for PDF Elt Updated

2/2

Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2013

Page 2 of 2

bbclearningenglish.com

Vocabulary and definitions

pervasive noticeable everywhere; becoming widespread

activist person who takes part in activities that hope to

achieve political or social change

set things in motion started

en masse together as a group

grassroots ordinary people in a group or country, not its leaders

backing support

oppressive unfair or cruel

guardianship legal control and responsibility

irony opposite situation to what you normally expect

transgression breaking of the law or moral rules

violate break or go against (a law or tradition)

taking to the wheel driving a car

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/09/130920_witn_saudi_women_story.shtml

Related story:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20469486

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/09/130920_witn_saudi_women_story.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/09/130920_witn_saudi_women_story.shtmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20469486http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20469486http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20469486http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/09/130920_witn_saudi_women_story.shtml