In an exclusive interview to arabnews, Shayma expressed her dismay at the sentence. “I am still in shock and I cannot think straight because of what I have had to go through. I will appeal the sentence.”
She told Arab News that she drove only once and it was before high-profile campaigner for women driving Manal Al-Sharif was caught. Shayma holds an international driving license.
Shayma's lawyer Adnan Al-Saleh told Arab News that his client was waiting for a fair and just decision on women driving.
He said women driving is not considered in any way a criminal charge in Saudi law or Islamic teachings.
“This is not an issue related to morals or custom nor is it a crime that requires punishment. The courts now consider any woman driving a car without a Saudi driving license to be committing a crime punishable by lashes. It means that any woman caught driving in the future will suffer the same punishment, and maybe even prison,” he said.
The more this story gets an international coverage , the more chance the verdict is changed
An Internet petition called last night appealing to Saudi king to halt the verdict
http://www.change.org/petitions/saudi-arabia-dont-whip-women-for-driving
In an exclusive interview to arabnews, Shayma expressed her dismay at the sentence. “I am still in shock and I cannot think straight because of what I have had to go through. I will appeal the sentence.”
She told Arab News that she drove only once and it was before high-profile campaigner for women driving Manal Al-Sharif was caught. Shayma holds an international driving license.
Shayma's lawyer Adnan Al-Saleh told Arab News that his client was waiting for a fair and just decision on women driving.
He said women driving is not considered in any way a criminal charge in Saudi law or Islamic teachings.
“This is not an issue related to morals or custom nor is it a crime that requires punishment. The courts now consider any woman driving a car without a Saudi driving license to be committing a crime punishable by lashes. It means that any woman caught driving in the future will suffer the same punishment, and maybe even prison,” he said.
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article507949.ece