Woman jailed for driving in Saudi Arabia, opens up

Women's rights activist who was jailed, for defiling Saudi Arabia's female driving ban has opened up about her ordeal.

Manal Al-Sharif, spent nine days behind bars after being charged with 'driving while female'.

She uploaded a YouTube video of herself travelling through the streets of Khobar in May 2011.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that forbids women from driving; but the ban did not stop the now 38-year-old from taking control over her life.

"I lost custody of my son, my job and my home (marriage), but I just have to accept the consequences; otherwise, women don't move forward", she said.

Ms Al-Sharif explained that when she got married to her second husband, she seek permission from her father and a 'special permission from the government' because she wasn't allowed to marry a non-Saudi man.

UCJ, UNILORIN.