Saudi Arabia has finally announced that they will allow women to get behind the wheel. Women have been restricted to drive from the very beginning as part of their religious rules. The Saudi Foreign Minister released a royal decree on the official Twitter account on Tuesday.
The government has formed a committee to implement the new ruling and make recommendations in 30 days. After this, the government will have a deadline till 24th June 2018 to implement the decree.
Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the U.S., Prince Khaled Bin Salman said, “This is a historic day in our kingdom.”
The move has been made to boost up the country’s economy with more women in the workforce. This is one among many changes being made after 32 year old Prince Mohammad Bin Salman has been crowned.
The crowned prince aims at an elaborate plan to reform and transform Saudi’s economy by the year 2030.
The world is reacting to this decree in different ways while some appreciate the change, others mock it for taking so long.
A statement was released by the White House that read, “President Donald J. Trump commends the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s decision today to affirm the right of women to drive in the kingdom.”
President Trump was quoted saying, “This is a positive step toward promoting the rights and opportunities of women in Saudi Arabia.”
