Saudi woman sentenced to 10 lashes for defying the kingdom's ban on women driving.

Reform: Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (centre) speaks before the members of the Shoura Council to announce new rights for women

Saudi activists say a court has sentenced a Saudi woman with 10 lashes for defying the kingdom's ban on women driving.

Activist Samar Badawi says Shaima Ghassaniya was found guilty today of driving without the government's permission.

No laws prohibit women from driving, but conservative religious edicts have banned it.

The ruling comes just two days after Saudi King Abdullah announced that, for the first time, women have the right to vote and run in the country's 2015 local elections.

Najalaa Harriri, who is also facing court for driving, revealed she needed to drive to take better care of her children.

The verdict is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia. Other women were detained for several days, but had not been sentenced by a court.


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