James M. Dorsey

Female Olympians? OK. Female Drivers? No.

Female Olympians? OK. Female Drivers? No.

JAMES DORSEY: It’s likely excellent news for Dalma Malhas but it’s unlikely she’ll be driving to show jumping events in the Kingdom anytime soon.

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

Manal Al Sharif: The Woman Who Divides Saudi Arabia

Manal Al Sharif: The Woman Who Divides Saudi Arabia

EMAN AL NAFJAN: She is a woman of undoubted moral courage who once again has come under sustained attack within the Kingdom.

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

Manal’s Speech: Three Lines of Attack by Saudis

Manal’s Speech: Three Lines of Attack by Saudis

EMAN AL NAFJAN: The 17 minute speech that Manal Al Sharif delivered on receiving the Vaclav Havel Prize last week has unleashed a hail of vitriol

 James M. Dorsey

Saudi Condemned for Women’s Sport Restrictions – HRW

Saudi Condemned for Women’s Sport Restrictions – HRW

JAMES M. DORSEY: Saudi accused of kowtowing to conservative Muslim clerics who claim female sports are “steps of the devil” – Human Rights Watch.

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

Back in Gear: Saudi Women Driver’s Campaign

Back in Gear: Saudi Women Driver’s Campaign

EMAN AL NAFJAN: There have been several significant developments this week in the campaign to allow women to drive in the Kingdom

 Ahmed-Al-Omran

Women Drivers in Saudi: A Shift in Strategy

Women Drivers in Saudi: A Shift in Strategy

AHMED AL OMRAN: It’s all been a bit quiet recently on the women-drivers front. There has, though, been an interesting development this week.

 Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

2011’s Amazing Women of the Year

2011’s Amazing Women of the Year

SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMMED: How could I possibly include all the women who filled our headlines over the past 12 months, for bravery and impact?

 Susie of Arabia

Mirror, Signal, Man-Oeuvre: Driving Claims Women’s Innocence – Saudi Cleric

Mirror, Signal, Man-Oeuvre: Driving Claims Women’s Innocence – Saudi Cleric

SUSIE OF ARABIA: Car manufacturers have been making absurd links between driving and sex for decades. They’ve been trumped however by a Saudi cleric.

 Common Ground News Service

Saudi Women: The Power & Limitation of Social Media

Saudi Women: The Power & Limitation of Social Media

MAHA AKEEL, CGNEWS: It’s clearly enabled women in the Middle East in particular to express their views more vocally but there are limits to what social media can achieve in effecting real change.

 Common Ground News Service

Women in Saudi: The Drive for Rights Continues

Women in Saudi: The Drive for Rights Continues

NATANA J.DeLONG-BAS, CGNEWS: The campaign to improve women’s rights in the Kingdom has focused on the issue of driving but progress is being quietly made in other areas of Saudi life.

 Rob L. Wagner

Smear Campaign Targets Women Journalists

Smear Campaign Targets Women Journalists

ROB L. WAGNER: Conservatives anonymously attack outspoken women by questioning their morals and beliefs in Islam.

 Susie of Arabia

Saudi: Momentum Grows in Support of Women Drivers

Saudi: Momentum Grows in Support of Women Drivers

SUSIE OF ARABIA: Driving is just a starting point. There are many other women’s issues that need to be addressed but as Manal says: “The rain starts with a single drop.”