WUNRN
SAUDI ARABIA - RELIGIOUS POLICE LIFT
BAN FOR WOMEN ON BIKES BUT ONLY WITH RESTRICTIONS
Associated
Press - April 2, 2013
The Al-Yawm
daily on Monday cited an unnamed official from the powerful religious police as
saying women can ride bikes in parks and recreational areas but they have to be
accompanied by a male relative and dressed in the full Islamic head-to-toe
abaya.
Saudi Arabia follows an ultraconservative interpretation of Islam
and bans women from driving. Women are also banned from riding motorcycles or
bicycles in public places. The newspaper didn't say what triggered the lifting
of the ban.
The official says women may not use the bikes for transportation
but "only for entertainment" and that they should shun places where young
men gather "to avoid harassment."