Ahmed al-Omran - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Ahmed al-Omran

Ahmed al-Omran is a Saudi blogger and journalist. You can read more of his work on his site, Riyadh Bureau. On Twitter: @ahmed

Female driver Azza Al Shmasani alights from her car after driving in defiance of the ban in Riyadh June 22, 2011. Saudi Arabia has no formal ban on women driving. But as citizens must use only Saudi-issued licences in the country, and as these are issued only to men, women drivers are anathema. An outcry at the segregation, which contributes to the general cloistering of Saudi women, has been fuelled by social media interest in two would-be female motorists arrested in May.REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed (SAUDI ARA

Saudi Women Renew Fight To Lift Driving Ban

People enter and leave Riyadh's general court October 20, 2008. A Saudi court began formal legal proceedings on Monday against around 70 militant suspects ahead of the first trials of al Qaeda sympathisers who waged a campaign of violence in the U.S.-allied monarchy. REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed (SAUDI ARABIA) - RTX9QIH

Saudi Executions Spur Internal Debate

Members of the Saudi advisory Shura Council listen to Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayaf Bin Abdul Aziz, brother of Saudi King Abdulah, during his presentation on the security situation in the kingdom, in Jeddah July 1, 2007 REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (SAUDI ARABIA)

Saudi Conservative Women Feel Marginalized by Shura Council Snub