KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, May 22 (UPI) -- A woman was arrested in Saudi Arabia for driving a car, authorities say
Manal al-Sharif, 32, was arrested in Kohbar Saturday after posting a video of herself driving a car and talking with another woman on YouTube.com, The Independent reported. Sharif was released after 6 hours, the London newspaper said.
Sharif learned how to drive in the United States and urges other Saudi women who have international licenses to start driving in Saudi Arabia, the only country where women don't get behind the wheel.
Women driving cars is not technically illegal in Saudi Arabia, however, women are denied driving licenses, effectively barring them from driving. Religious conservatives in the Middle East kingdom say women driving will lead to moral decay, the newspaper said.
Saudi officials have previously alluded to potentially lift the ban, though they have yet to follow through despite pressing campaigns from Saudi women.
