Saudis take to social media with campaign supporting women's right to drive in the kingdom

Supporters say the country has two options: either permit women to drive or ‘provide special discounted transportation’ for them

Women who drive in Saudi Arabia are perceived to be crossing boundaries and going against the country’s traditions and customs

(Getty)

Saudi women continue their campaign of demanding the right to drive cars in the kingdom.

Many women in Saudi Arabia took to social media to protest against the law that prohibits them from driving.

Women who drive in Saudi Arabia are perceived to be crossing boundaries and going against the country’s traditions and customs.

#IWillDriveMyCarJune15, which has received around 1 million mentions, has been trending on Twitter with users discussing the possibility of allowing women to drive.

Some supporters of the campaign, like Sahar on Twitter, think the country has two options, either to “permit us to drive or provide special discounted transportation for women”.

On the other hand, many Saudi men used the hashtag to make fun of female drivers.

Joking about women’s driving being reckless, Mishari posted: “#IWillDriveMyCarJune15 Just make sure you wear your seatbelt.”

Another male Twitter user said that women will be permitted to drive cars in the Saudi Kingdom, but only toy cars.

Other Saudi men supported the campaign, believing that it is a Saudi woman’s rights to be able to drive.

One user said: “199 countries don’t have a problem with women driving cars, except one. This issue is too minor to be discussed, the country should allow and implement this, full stop.”

Women’s driving remains a controversial topic in Saudi Arabia.

A pan Arab channel called MBC had published a poll on Twitter using a hashtag asking followers if they support or oppose allowing women to drive.

The poll was later deleted after results showed more people voting against, at around 78 per cent.

Although it is widely known it is illegal for Saudi women to drive cars in the country, there is no official law which bans them. It is however the religious police that prevents women from driving.