Saudi Arabia police detain four as video of woman driving goes viral

Police in Saudi Arabia have launched an investigation after a video of a woman driving went viral on social media.

Two men and two women have been detained after a video emerged showing a woman covering her face and wearing a man's thobe gown and headdress driving a white Lexus in what is believed to be the eastern province area of the country.

The owner of the vehicle seen in the video was identified and summoned by police, but he refused to come in for questioning for two days until he was advised to do so by a security agent, reports Gulf News.

Ziyad Al Raqiti, spokesperson for the Eastern Province police, said: "Police experts upon viewing the video identified the car owner as a Saudi national in his 40s. He was summoned, but he did not respond. However, he later came to the police and he was referred to the public prosecution."

The two women who were also questioned were confirmed as Arabs, but no other details about their identities were given.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the word which bans women from driving and the police investigation will look into the relationship between the four as Saudi Arabia does not allow men and women who are not related to each other to mix.

Although there is no official law banning women from driving in the gulf state, authorities do not issue licences to women and ultra-conservative clerics have issued religious edicts against it.

Saudi Arabian women have demonstrated against the ban since 1990, with dozens of women being jailed after being caught behind the wheel.

Last November, Saudi prince Alwaleed bin Talal urged for the country to allow women to drive. Bin Talal, an outspoken member of the Saudi royal family, added: "Preventing a woman from driving a car is today an issue of rights similar to the one that forbade her from receiving an education or having an independent identity."