Saudi Arabia's driving ban lifted, women drive on streets

The end on the driving ban hence brought the  Gulf nation into line with the rest of the world.

Mona Al-Fares, a doctor, told CNN she was in her car before midnight, waiting for the ban to lift before setting off through the streets of Jeddah with her husband and children.

"I feel like I'm surprised -- am I really driving in my own country? I feel happy, relieved. I feel like I'm free," she told CNN.

The country had witnessed immense crackdown on activists who had fought and campaigned for the right to drive.

The ban has been lifted at a time when news reports had recently suggested that women rights activists were detained in connection with the campaign to lift the ban on women drivers in Saudi Arabia.

Responding to reports that several prominent women’s rights defenders in Saudi Arabia have been detained this week, Samah Hadid, Amnesty International’s Middle East Director of Campaigns, had said in a statement: “This is an extremely worrying development for women human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia.

"News reports have suggested that those detained have been connected with the campaign to lift the ban on women drivers in Saudi Arabia. The ban is set to be lifted next month, with licenses being issued from 24 June. Amnesty International is in the process of confirming the identities of the individuals detained," Amnesty International said in a statement last month.

Social Media Welcomes lifting of ban:

Meanwhile,  Baheirah Khusheim, 33, shared her image on Instagram, driving her car and dedicated the moment to her father.

He had captioned the image as: "#finally this one is for you #dad🚘 4 those who couldn’t witness this day  #ahhh #choice #saudiwomen #driveksa Another + #saudi international driving license. Although many say there’s no need it but #just-incase #midnight #hittheroad#women #saudiarabia #24june#saudiwomendriving #staysafe#staypositive Special thanks to my co-pilot📷ladies, where r u... can’t see u?Passed my bed time but totally #worthit it 😂#طار_النوم #خلاص."

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a billionaire businessman tweeted: "First ride with my daughter @Reem_Alwaleed while she’s driving me and my grand daughters in Riyadh."

Image: Shoaib Akhtar Twitter page