DAMMAM: A Saudi woman who defied driving ban for women in the country in Al-Khobar earlier this week was jailed Sunday pending investigation, a prisons authority official said. Lt. Col. Dr. Ayoub Bin Nehait, spokesman of the Directorate General of Prisons, said the Criminal Investigations Department sent Manal Masoud Al-Sharief to the Dammam Women's Prison and an order has been issued to detain her for five days pending investigations. Al-Sharief has been accused of violating regulations and directives by driving a car in Al-Khobar in the Eastern Province; giving an interview to a female journalist while she was driving; publishing the interview online; inciting women to drive and provoking public opinion, Col. Al-Nehait said. During preliminary investigations, Al-Sharief spoke of her intentions by driving and publishing the filmed interview online, he added. Col. Al-Nehait called on all Saudis to abide by the spirit of citizenship through compliance with regulations as directed by the teachings of Islam and keep away from all that would cause social unrest. Al-Sharief was arrested Saturday after her test drive in Al-Khobar. After a few hours her brother secured her release but she was taken back into custody, according to published reports. One activist has said police asked the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai'a) to help arrest Al-Sharief, a 32-year-old computer-security consultant. She learned how to drive at the age of 30 in New Hampshire, USA.
