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Saudi Billionaire Prince: Women Should Be Allowed to Drive in Kingdom

by Associated Press

   DUBAI, UAE --

   A Saudi prince has issued a public call for women to be allowed to
   drive in the conservative kingdom.

   Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal made the call on Twitter, tweeting in Arabic
   and English: "Stop the debate: Time for women to drive." His tweet late
   Tuesday included links to an opinion article arguing for the change
   that cited economic, social and religious considerations.
   Alwaleed does not hold a formal position in the Saudi government. The
   billionaire leads the Riyadh-based investment firm Kingdom Holding
   Company, which holds stakes in several Western companies, including
   Twitter.
   Saudi Arabia follows an ultraconservative interpretation of Islam. It
   is the only country in the world that does not allow women to drive,
   and women's rights activists have been detained for defying the ban.