Driving Ban for Women in Saudi Arabia

This cropped up in a recent lesson, and here's the background. Useful nuggets you can take away from this article:
1) harshness of the syariah law (based on Islam, i.e. religion) -- note potential rebuttal about harm of religion here as it is not so much religion per se but the 'interpretation' of religion that is causing the problem here.
2) Note the examples of female oppression under Syariah law listed in the article
3) Saudi Arabia, long a favourite example of a conservative society that oppresses women, is undergoing social reforms due to their enlightened King -- useful for rebuttal
4) note the examples of social reforms in Saudi Arabia : women will soon be able to vote in municipal elections in 2015; women have been admitted into the highly influential Religious Council -- baby steps in the advancement of women
5) the protest campaign against the driving ban for women was initiated online via Facebook and Twitter -- role of technology in empowering women (Hillary Clinton, then the US Secretary of State, lent her backing to this campaign)

Relate to questions on religion, gender equality, technology and social media, the use of violence as punishment and deterrence

article 1a

article 1b