The kibaar al-'ulemaa never outlawled that women are forbidden to drive because the issue was never brought them.
News article:
Ulema Council Never Discussed Women Driving
Saad Al-Matrafi, Arab News, 6/6/2005 (28, Rabi` al-Thani, 1426)
JEDDAH, 6 June 2005 — Sheikh Abdullah ibn Munee, a member of the Council of Senior Ulema which is the Kingdom's highest religious body, said the council had not discussed the issue of women driving in its past sessions.
"The issue was never brought up in any of our sessions," Sheikh Ibn Munee said in an exclusive statement to Arab News. The scholar stated that those who have announced either through the Internet or in leaflets that women driving is religiously forbidden — haram — were not telling the truth.
"We never said it was haram for women to drive," said Ibn Munee. He clarified that some members of the committee had, however, expressed their own personal views. "We do not say it is haram but we say that it is for the good of our daughters not to drive."
Sheikh Ibn Munee did say that Saudi society was not yet ready for women to drive. Al-Madinah newspaper, however, stated that the council may discuss the issue officially at one of their sessions in two months.
Sheikh Alfowzan, another member of the Council of Senior Ulema, stated in a reply to the Shoura Council member, Mohammed Al-Zulfa, that the financial cost of bringing foreign drivers was much less than a loss of honor. The sheikh was referring to the possibility that women driving could lead to immorality and a loss of honor.
A number of female voices have raised questions reflecting their confusion about the situation. Khowla Al-Khaldi, a teacher from Jeddah, said, "If the Ulema Council were not going to discuss the issue, and the vice-chairman of the Shoura Council said that the matter was for the Ulema and the Minister of Interior, Prince Naif, said that the matter is social rather than religious, then to whom shall we look for answers?"
Manal Tashkandi said that she had been searching for years for someone to rule on the issue. "I am not keen on driving but for God's sake, when will this hassle end?" said Tashkandi who has a British driving license.
A few women expressed satisfaction about women not being allowed to drive.
Nahla Al-Swailih, a banker in Riyadh, said that she was not interested in driving in the Kingdom although she has an international driving license. "I can never imagine myself driving in these streets which are filled with lunatics driving madly," said Al-Swalih.
Muna Bukhari said that she agreed with Ibn Munee's comment about society. "Unfortunately, our young men need to be taught proper behavior and respect before we women can be allowed to drive," said Bukhari. She added that one could sense what problems women drivers would face by simply being aware of the harassment they are subjected to in malls.