Saudi princess, at Davos forum, says: 'I'd let women drive'

The most prominent princess in Saudi Arabia's royal family said Thursday that if she could change one thing about her country, she would let women drive a rare and direct challenge against the driving ban imposed by the kingdom's ruling male elite.

Photo: Saudi princess, at Davos forum, says: 'I'd let women drive'

The comment from Princess Lolwah Al-Faisal, the daughter of a former Saudi king and sister of the country's current foreign minister, came during a session at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting a forum known for getting world leaders to engage in frank, often off-the-record dialogue without fear of being criticized.

Al-Faisal, however, spoke at a public session on promoting religious tolerance. Other attendees included former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, the prime minister of Malaysia, an orthodox Jewish rabbi/peace activist from Israel and an American cleric.

The moderator, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, asked panel members at one point to "self-criticize" and say what they would change to promote greater interfaith understanding, reports AP.

Turning to the princess, he quipped: "What would you do, princess, if you were 'queen' for a day? I won't tell anyone."

"First thing, I'd let women drive," Al-Faisal said dryly, as the audience erupted in applause and laughter. She added as the applause died down, "Or else have a great transportation system, which we don't have."

Women in Saudi Arabia now can work at many jobs that previously were off-limits a point the princess made. But critics say their inability to drive holds them back, in reality, from many jobs by forcing them to rely on hired drivers, or on male family members, to get to work or even to school.