Makkah daily

A SIMPLE description of June 24 when the royal decree lifting the ban on women driving was put into effect is that it was not just a historic day but was an international day of driving. No country in the world, save Saudi Arabia, had prevented women from driving and then allowed them the right to drive.

The day was a proof that the Kingdom has supported reforms within the country as well as in other conservative countries.

A revisit to changing the social network is a pure Saudi skill. Here are some of the sarcastic jokes about women driving. I hope I would not anger women or make the men laugh.

* A scholar shaved off his beard and mustache because he had sworn he would do so if women were allowed to drive. He documented his action with pictures. A message from a woman driver to this man was that he should be thankful that he did not vow to do more.

* Japanese newspapers published pictures of Saudi women driving and celebrated this historic day. Japan is usually a silent country but it spoke in support of Saudi women. We are waiting to hear about the stance of the most silent country in the world, Oman, on women driving in the Kingdom.

* Saudi women needed about 30 years (from 1990 to 2018) to sit behind the wheel. This means that the rights may be regained even after a long time. The Saudi woman is a model of patience and wisdom. The message here is: Beware of the woman's patience. She will definitely emerge triumphant at the end of the day.

* Some women tweeted that they drove their cars on the first day but their ovaries were not affected. They were replying to a tweet by a religious scholar who claimed that driving would adversely affect the ovaries and prevent women from becoming pregnant. The Saudi woman driver has simply set a medical precedent.

* A day before Saudi women were allowed to drive, the Saudi men made as many as 37,272 (not an accurate number) jokes about women driving. These sarcastic jokes did not hinder women from driving on Sunday, June 24.

* A woman said to the joke crackers that we would ultimately drive if you liked it or not while another one said: Your jokes are not funny.

* Saudi women who were exulted by their new-found freedom to drive are now singing in parties more loudly than the singers themselves.

* The traffic police were very kind and generous with the women drivers. Men hoped that they would be as kind and nice with them as well.

* Even the elements that staunchly opposed women driving have become supporters of the move.

* Filming of women behind the wheel is prohibited to preserve their privacy. Men asked for a similar treatment.