Khalaf Al-Harbi

Okaz

 

There are no known figures in the list of those who object to women’s driving in Saudi Arabia all through the last weeks. However, the list of those who supported women’s driving has been increasing day by day with names of several prominent figures appearing with their clear voices and pictures.



This was the case until the famous UAE singer Ahlam came out in public with her opposition to Saudi women’s driving. Addressing a gathering at the National Open Dialogue Hall recently, she created a wave of outcry against Saudi women’s driving. I don’t know who will follow suit? Who else stands with Ahlam against allowing Saudi woman to exercise her right to drive?

Of course, three-fourth of the Gulf citizens would surely know that Ahlam must not have taken this decision after pondering deeply over the matter.



Even there were rumors that the position taken by her rival Shams, another famous singer supporting Saudi women’s driving, has provoked her to come out with such a stance. Shams recently produced a video clip titled “It’s our right to drive.” It is quite natural that Ahlam has come out with an opposite stand as everybody is aware about their open clashes.



But the feud itself is insignificant. The important thing is that Ahlam has voiced her opinion whether it is factually right or wrong. And she is not at all bothered about such things when she wants to speak about something.

But, we have to cope with the viewpoint of Ahlam, who often gets entangled in such public controversies that are of no concern to her.



The important issue is that we have a well-known figure who opposes Saudi women’s driving. And it is none other than Ahlam Ali Al Shamsi. We need to know about the other people who are yet to oppose Saudi women’s driving so that we do not find ourselves in front of a great illusion after sometime.



I am not skeptical to think that there are a large number of opponents who are afraid of the consequences of any change. It would be hypothetical to think that any well-known personality was confused over 1,000 times before taking a position to oppose this simple right, which is not against the religion or traffic rules or customs and traditions of the society or anything else.



The list of the opponents was non-existent until Ahlam came from outside the border of the Kingdom with her tweet so as to register her name in the forefront of the opponents of Saudi women’s driving.



There is no doubt that we in due course know the reasons for the radical position taken by Ahlam. There is every possibility for Ahlam to reveal the reason for her provocative stand while speaking out to famous television show presenters like Nishan who are very close to her. All this will happen at the right time.



The important thing is that Ahlam has recorded her name in a vacant list where she did not see any other famous names. On the other hand, most of the well-known figures are either supporters of women’s driving or at least not opposing it or indifferent toward it. Non-acceptance of something does not imply that it was rejected… This is the slogan of the current phase while dealing with the issue of women’s driving.



As usual, Umm Fahed rushed to take a wrong position at a wrong time. Ahlam came in her luxurious car in the middle of the busy intersection to announce her objections to Saudi women’s driving and this happened at a time when even the officials of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (religious police) proclaimed that they are not against women’s driving.