Free courses for women for attaining driving licenses in southern province of Iraq

The authorities in Basra province of Iraq, want to break the men’s monopoly for driving cars on the streets. In Iraq, it is notable that no legislation is there which restricts women from driving. However, in certain areas of Iraq, due to the rise in Islamic militancy, car driving for women has been marked as banned or prohibited.
The Basra provincial authorities are keen to see as many women drivers on the street as possible and are raising resources to provide women with free driving courses.
Amatar al-Mimahi stated, “We will first start with female teachers and help them get their driving licenses free of charge,” and added in the statement, “The training and issuing of licenses will be done with coordination with the traffic police department in the province.”
She said that the council has approved her proposal to encourage women to drive. Women teachers across the province have received the news with glee.
Nauras Kamel has described this as a ‘positive step’. She stated, “Driving cars by women is seen today as a sign of a civil and democratic society besides owning a car today is part of the job and daily life.”
Teachers’ Union in the province has thrown its weight behind the measure. The union head, Jawad al-Marboush stated, “The union supports all efforts aimed at boosting of Basra women in the society.”