Facing Threats, Saudi Women Drop Driving Protest

Women are banned from driving there

Activists pressing to end Saudi Arabia's ban on women driving have dropped plans for a "drive-in" Saturday after threats of legal action and have opted instead for an open-ended campaign.

"Out of caution and respect for the interior ministry's warnings… we are asking women not to drive tomorrow and to change the initiative from an October 26 campaign to an open driving campaign," activist Najla al-Hariri told AFP Friday.

Several women said they had received telephone calls from the ministry, which openly warned on Thursday of measures against activists who chose to participate and asked them to promise not to drive on Saturday.