RIYADH: It’s only for women over 30, who must be off the road by 8pm and cannot wear makeup behind the wheel. But it’s still a startling idea. The Saudi king’s advisory council — whose suggestions are not binding — has recommended that the government lift its ban on female drivers, a member of the council said on Friday.

Local media subsequently quoted an official denying the report. There have been years of campaigning against the kingdom’s staunch rejection of any review of the ban.

Though they are not obligatory on the government, simply making such a recommendation would be a major step after years of the kingdom staunchly rejecting any review of the ban. There have been small but increasingly bold protests by women who took to their cars over the past year.

The driving ban, which is unique in the world, is imposed because the kingdom’s ultraconservative Muslim clerics say “licentiousness” will spread if women drive.

The council member said the Shura Council made the recommendations in a secret, closed session held in the past month. The member spoke on condition of anonymity because the recommendations had not been made public.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2014