A group of Saudi women’s rights activists has marked the beginning of the new year in both the Islamic (hijri) and western calendars to renew their petition to the Saudi monarch, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, demanding that women in the Kingdom be given the right to drive cars and to move freely “without restriction and without being subject to prosecution.” [Full Story in Arabic]



The statement reads as follows:



In the Name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, may God preserve him



May Peace and the Mercy and Blessings of God be upon You



On the occasion of the advent of the Hijri (Islamic) and Christian (Western) new years, we are sending our best and warmest greetings and blessings to your noble throne and to every Saudi citizen, in the hope that the coming year will be a year rich in security, peace, and prosperity everywhere in the world by virtue of the efforts of people of good will like yourselves throughout the world.



To the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques



We are honored to convey to you the feelings of happiness and high hopes that possess us in the auspicious era of your rule, directing the steering wheel of reform and development in our country, as we are experiencing firm steps on the path to comprehensive development, increasing the hope and expectation of even greater achievements.



Therefore we send this letter, greeting and congratulating you and following up on the letter that we sent to your noble throne on our National Day, 11 Ramadan (corresponding to 23 September) of this past year, signed by 1,100 women and men, requesting that women be allowed to drive cars, granting them the exercise of the right of free movement, a right that their mothers and grandmothers had, without restriction or being subject to prosecution.



Therefore, we faithful citizens of our beloved nation and subjects of its noble leadership anticipate that 2008 will be the year in which the Saudi woman gains her natural right to drive her car for herself, sparing herself and her children from having to travel in cars driven by foreign drivers or in taxis.



May God preserve you and guide Your Steps, and May Peace and the Mercy and Blessings of God be upon You.

Saudi Arabia, December 30, 2007

Submitted by:



Haifa Asra

Ibtihal Mubarak

Fawzia Al-Uyuni

Wajeha Al-Huwaidar

Samira Al-Bitar

Dima Al-Hajiri



and 1100 fellow citizens asking that women be allowed to drive.