TORONTO — Dressed in a traditional thawb and keffiyeh, comedian Hisham Fageeh channels Bob Marley in his latest video lampooning Saudi Arabia’s ban on women driving in the ultra conservative kingdom.
Saudi activists said more than 60 women hopped behind the wheel on Saturday in a protest demanding the right to drive. No one was arrested, according to a security official, despite earlier warnings.
Highly influential clerics said that breaking the ban would spread licentiousness, with one cleric stating last month that medical studies show that driving harms ovaries.
“I remember when you used to sit in the family car, but backseat,” sings Fageeh. “Ova-ovaries so safe and well so you can make lots of babies.”
Fageeh’s song also lightly touches on the patriarchal culture in Saudi Arabia, where rape victims are imprisoned, segregation is strictly enforced in public areas and laws demand that a male relative act as a guardian on any trip outside the house.
“But you can cook for me my dinner, of which I’d share with you,” Fageeh sings. “Your feet is your only carriage but only inside the house — and when I say it I mean it.”
Two years ago, King Abdullah granted Saudi women the right to vote and run for office. The new rules will take effect in 2015 council elections, appearing to mark a cultural shift in the rigid kingdom.
There are no specific laws that ban women from driving in the monarchy, however women aren’t issued drivers licences. Most rely on male relatives, taxis, and very limited public transportation options, restricting the ability to work or attend school.
Read more: Saudi women break driving ban, defying warning
About 17,000 people signed a petition calling either for women to be allowed to drive or for an explanation of why the prohibition should remain in force.
As part of protests, dozens of women posted videos on themselves driving in different Saudi cities.
The activists behind the campaign believe the public mood and culture are shifting, with many people, including men, urging the kingdom to lift the ban.
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