Saudi Arabia’s Shura Council has voted against a proposal to study the issue of women’s driving.

An unnamed member of the advisory council told AFP on Wednesday that a male council member had put forward the legislation, but it failed to achieve the 50 percent plus one support required.

The council has 150 members, 30 of which are women.

In April, two female council members expressed optimism about reopening the debate surrounding the issue.

“I hope that our proposal to amend the Traffic Law will be voted on in the next Shura Council meeting. Giving women the right to drive will increase their productivity,” Shura member Haya Al-Minai said, according to the Saudi Gazette.

But, these hopes were dashed this week with the Shura Council’s refusal to even study the issue.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that does not allow women to drive.

Although change and modernization have been buzz words associated with the kingdom this year – particularly in light of Deputy Crown Prince  Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious Vision 2030 – female driving doesn’t seem to be swept up that tide.

“So far the society is not persuaded – and it has negative influence – but we stress that it is up to the Saudi society,” Prince Mohammed said, according to the AFP.

In recent years, female Saudi activists have staged protests encouraging women to get behind the wheel and drive in defiance of the kingdom’s de facto ban.

In December 2014, leading activists were arrested and imprisoned  when attempting to drive into the kingdom. They were released after two and a half months.

Sexism remains a serious issue in the kingdom, but there are signs of progress. Women were allowed to vote and run for elected office for the first time in 2015.

Source: stepfeed.com