Saudi king decrees women be allowed to driveRIYADH/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi King Salman on Tuesday ordered that women be allowed to drive cars, ending a conservative tradition seen by rights activists as an emblem of the Islamic kingdom s repression of women. The kingdom, the birthplace of Islam, has been widely criticized for being the only country in the world that bans women from driving, despite gradual improvement on some women s issues in recent years and ambitious government targets to increase their public role, especially in the workforce. Despite trying to cultivate a more modern image in recent years, the driving ban had been a longstanding stain on Saudi Arabia s international image. The royal decree ordered the formation of a ministerial body to give advice within 30 days and then implement the order by June 24, 2018, according to state news agency SPA. It stipulated that the move must  apply and adhere to the necessary Sharia standards , referring to Islamic law. It gave no details but said a majority of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, Saudi Arabia s top clerical body, had approved its permissibility. An hour after the official announcement in Saudi Arabia, a jubilant Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Khaled bin Salman, said it was  an historic and big day in our kingdom .  I think our leadership understands that our society is ready. I think it s the right decision at the right time,  the ambassador said. Positive reactions quickly poured in from inside the kingdom and around the world.  The U.S. State Department welcomed the move as  a great step in the right direction . President Donald Trump commended the decision, the White House said in a separate statement that  pledged U.S. support for a plan the Kingdom announced last year for economic and social reforms.  This is a positive step toward promoting the rights and opportunities of women in Saudi Arabia,  the White House statement said.  We will continue to support Saudi Arabia in its to efforts to strengthen Saudi society and the economy through reforms like this and the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030.  For more than 25 years, women activists have campaigned to be allowed to drive, defiantly taking to the road, petitioning the king and posting videos of themselves behind the wheel on social media. The protests brought them arrest and harassment. Activist Manal al-Sherif, who was arrested in 2011 after a driving protest, took to Twitter following the king s announcement to express her relief.  Today, the last country on earth to allow women to drive... we did it , she wrote. Latifa al-Shaalan, a member of the Shura Council, an  advisory body, said the decision would strengthen women s employment in the private sector.  This is an historic day and I cannot find the words to express my feelings and the feelings of thousands of Saudi women,  she said on Arabiya TV. In Saudi Arabia, a top Arab ally of the United States, women are legally subject to a male guardian, who must give approval to basic decisions they make in fields including education, employment, marriage, travel plans and even medical treatment. Women in the kingdom are also bound by law to wear long robes and a headscarf and require the consent of a male guardian for most legal actions. Prince Khaled, the ambassador, said women would not need permission from their guardians to get a license or have a guardian in the car and would be allowed to drive anywhere in the kingdom, including the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Women with a license from any of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries would be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, he added. He said the Interior Ministry would have to decide whether they could be professional drivers.  In terms of international PR, this is the biggest overnight win that Saudi Arabia - and particularly MBS - could possibly have,  said Jane Kinninmont, senior research fellow at Chatham House. The position of Saudi women gradually improved under late King Abdullah and since King Salman took over in 2015, the kingdom has been opening more areas for women through the government s modernizing reforms. That has sparked tensions with influential clerics upon whose support the ruling family relies. Some reactions to Tuesday s announcement reflected that. Critics took to Twitter to denounce the decision, accusing the government of  bending the verses of Sharia .  As far as I remember, Sharia scholars have said it was haram (forbidden) for women to drive. How come it has suddenly become halal (permissible)?  another user wrote. Asked whether he was worried about a conservative backlash, the ambassador said:  On these changes some people will be in the drivers  seat... some people will be in the back seat, but we re all going to move forward.   He added:  It s not women must drive, it s women can drive. So if any women do not want to drive in Saudi Arabia, that s her choice.  Some leading members of the country s powerful and austere Sunni Muslim clergy have argued against women being allowed to drive, which they say could lead to them mingling with unrelated men, thereby breaching strict gender segregation rules. The decision could also have broad economic impacts, making it possible for women to get to work without a driver but also curbing the popularity of car hailing apps like Uber and Careem. Prince Khaled, a son of the king, said the decision was as much about economic reform as social change. His older brother, 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed, has become the face of reform in the kingdom in the past few years. Many younger Saudis regard his ascent as evidence that their generation is taking a central place in running a country whose patriarchal traditions have for decades made power the province of the old and blocked women s progress.      Oh my God, this is amazing. Ever since Mohammed bin Salman s rise, he has fast-tracked all the changes that are needed for our country,  said Marwa Afandi, a 35-year-old event planner in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.  Congratulations to all my ladies, this is a real victory.  worldnews
saudi king decrees women allowed reuters saudi king salman tuesday ordered women allowed drive cars ending conservative tradition seen rights activists emblem islamic kingdom repression women the kingdom birthplace islam widely criticized country world bans women driving despite gradual improvement women issues recent years ambitious government targets increase public role especially workforce despite trying cultivate modern image recent years driving ban longstanding stain saudi arabia international image the royal decree ordered formation ministerial body give advice within days implement order june according state news agency spa it stipulated move must apply adhere necessary sharia standards referring islamic law it gave details said majority council senior religious scholars saudi arabia top clerical body approved permissibility an hour official announcement saudi arabia jubilant saudi ambassador washington prince killed bin salman said historic big day kingdom i think leadership understands society ready i think right decision right time ambassador said positive reactions quickly poured inside kingdom around world the state department welcomed move great step right direction president donald trump commended decision white house said separate statement pledged support plan kingdom announced last year economic social reforms this positive step toward promoting rights opportunities women saudi arabia white house statement said we continue support saudi arabia efforts strengthen saudi society economy reforms like implementation saudi vision for years women activists campaigned allowed drive defiant taking road positioning king posting videos behind wheel social media the protests brought arrest harassment activist manual arrested driving protest took twitter following king announcement express relief today last country earth allow women drive wrote latina member sha council advisory body said decision would strengthen women employment private sector this historic day i find words express feelings feelings thousands saudi women said arabia tv in saudi arabia top arab ally united states women legally subject male guardian must give approval basic decisions make fields including education employment marriage travel plans even medical treatment women kingdom also bound law wear long robes headscarf require consent male guardian legal actions prince killed ambassador said women would need permission guardians get license guardian car would allowed drive anywhere kingdom including islamic holy cities mecca medina women license gulf cooperation council countries would allowed drive saudi arabia added he said interior ministry would decide whether could professional drivers in terms international pr biggest overnight win saudi arabia particularly ms could possibly said jane kinninmont senior research fellow chateau house the position saudi women gradually improved late king abdullah since king salman took kingdom opening areas women government modernizing reforms that sparked tensions influential clerics upon whose support ruling family relies some reactions tuesday announcement reflected critics took twitter denounce decision accusing government bending verses sharia as far i remember sharia scholars said haram forbidden women drive how come suddenly become halal permissible another user wrote asked whether worried conservative backlash ambassador said on changes people drivers seat people back seat going move forward he added it women must drive women drive so women want drive saudi arabia choice some leading members country powerful austere sunny muslim clergy argued women allowed drive say could lead singling unrelated men thereby breaching strict gender segregation rules the decision could also broad economic impacts making possible women get work without driver also curling popularity car hailing apps like uber career prince killed son king said decision much economic reform social change his older brother crown prince mohammed become face reform kingdom past years many younger saudi regard ascent evidence generation taking central place running country whose patriarchal traditions decades made power province old blocked women progress oh god amazing ever since mohammed bin salman rise changes needed country said maria amanda event planner red sea city jeddah congratulations ladies real victory worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Saudi king decrees women be allowed to driveRIYADH/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi King Salman on Tuesday ordered that women be allowed to drive cars, ending a conservative tradition seen by rights activists as an emblem of the Islamic kingdom s repression of women. The kingdom, the birthplace of Islam, has been widely criticized for being the only country in the world that bans women from driving, despite gradual improvement on some women s issues in recent years and ambitious government targets to increase their public role, especially in the workforce. Despite trying to cultivate a more modern image in recent years, the driving ban had been a longstanding stain on Saudi Arabia s international image. The royal decree ordered the formation of a ministerial body to give advice within 30 days and then implement the order by June 24, 2018, according to state news agency SPA. It stipulated that the move must  apply and adhere to the necessary Sharia standards , referring to Islamic law. It gave no details but said a majority of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, Saudi Arabia s top clerical body, had approved its permissibility. An hour after the official announcement in Saudi Arabia, a jubilant Saudi ambassador to Washington, Prince Khaled bin Salman, said it was  an historic and big day in our kingdom .  I think our leadership understands that our society is ready. I think it s the right decision at the right time,  the ambassador said. Positive reactions quickly poured in from inside the kingdom and around the world.  The U.S. State Department welcomed the move as  a great step in the right direction . President Donald Trump commended the decision, the White House said in a separate statement that  pledged U.S. support for a plan the Kingdom announced last year for economic and social reforms.  This is a positive step toward promoting the rights and opportunities of women in Saudi Arabia,  the White House statement said.  We will continue to support Saudi Arabia in its to efforts to strengthen Saudi society and the economy through reforms like this and the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030.  For more than 25 years, women activists have campaigned to be allowed to drive, defiantly taking to the road, petitioning the king and posting videos of themselves behind the wheel on social media. The protests brought them arrest and harassment. Activist Manal al-Sherif, who was arrested in 2011 after a driving protest, took to Twitter following the king s announcement to express her relief.  Today, the last country on earth to allow women to drive... we did it , she wrote. Latifa al-Shaalan, a member of the Shura Council, an  advisory body, said the decision would strengthen women s employment in the private sector.  This is an historic day and I cannot find the words to express my feelings and the feelings of thousands of Saudi women,  she said on Arabiya TV. In Saudi Arabia, a top Arab ally of the United States, women are legally subject to a male guardian, who must give approval to basic decisions they make in fields including education, employment, marriage, travel plans and even medical treatment. Women in the kingdom are also bound by law to wear long robes and a headscarf and require the consent of a male guardian for most legal actions. Prince Khaled, the ambassador, said women would not need permission from their guardians to get a license or have a guardian in the car and would be allowed to drive anywhere in the kingdom, including the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Women with a license from any of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries would be allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia, he added. He said the Interior Ministry would have to decide whether they could be professional drivers.  In terms of international PR, this is the biggest overnight win that Saudi Arabia - and particularly MBS - could possibly have,  said Jane Kinninmont, senior research fellow at Chatham House. The position of Saudi women gradually improved under late King Abdullah and since King Salman took over in 2015, the kingdom has been opening more areas for women through the government s modernizing reforms. That has sparked tensions with influential clerics upon whose support the ruling family relies. Some reactions to Tuesday s announcement reflected that. Critics took to Twitter to denounce the decision, accusing the government of  bending the verses of Sharia .  As far as I remember, Sharia scholars have said it was haram (forbidden) for women to drive. How come it has suddenly become halal (permissible)?  another user wrote. Asked whether he was worried about a conservative backlash, the ambassador said:  On these changes some people will be in the drivers  seat... some people will be in the back seat, but we re all going to move forward.   He added:  It s not women must drive, it s women can drive. So if any women do not want to drive in Saudi Arabia, that s her choice.  Some leading members of the country s powerful and austere Sunni Muslim clergy have argued against women being allowed to drive, which they say could lead to them mingling with unrelated men, thereby breaching strict gender segregation rules. The decision could also have broad economic impacts, making it possible for women to get to work without a driver but also curbing the popularity of car hailing apps like Uber and Careem. Prince Khaled, a son of the king, said the decision was as much about economic reform as social change. His older brother, 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed, has become the face of reform in the kingdom in the past few years. Many younger Saudis regard his ascent as evidence that their generation is taking a central place in running a country whose patriarchal traditions have for decades made power the province of the old and blocked women s progress.      Oh my God, this is amazing. Ever since Mohammed bin Salman s rise, he has fast-tracked all the changes that are needed for our country,  said Marwa Afandi, a 35-year-old event planner in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.  Congratulations to all my ladies, this is a real victory.  worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: saudi king decrees women allowed reuters saudi king salman tuesday ordered women allowed drive cars ending conservative tradition seen rights activists emblem islamic kingdom repression women the kingdom birthplace islam widely criticized country world bans women driving despite gradual improvement women issues recent years ambitious government targets increase public role especially workforce despite trying cultivate modern image recent years driving ban longstanding stain saudi arabia international image the royal decree ordered formation ministerial body give advice within days implement order june according state news agency spa it stipulated move must apply adhere necessary sharia standards referring islamic law it gave details said majority council senior religious scholars saudi arabia top clerical body approved permissibility an hour official announcement saudi arabia jubilant saudi ambassador washington prince killed bin salman said historic big day kingdom i think leadership understands society ready i think right decision right time ambassador said positive reactions quickly poured inside kingdom around world the state department welcomed move great step right direction president donald trump commended decision white house said separate statement pledged support plan kingdom announced last year economic social reforms this positive step toward promoting rights opportunities women saudi arabia white house statement said we continue support saudi arabia efforts strengthen saudi society economy reforms like implementation saudi vision for years women activists campaigned allowed drive defiant taking road positioning king posting videos behind wheel social media the protests brought arrest harassment activist manual arrested driving protest took twitter following king announcement express relief today last country earth allow women drive wrote latina member sha council advisory body said decision would strengthen women employment private sector this historic day i find words express feelings feelings thousands saudi women said arabia tv in saudi arabia top arab ally united states women legally subject male guardian must give approval basic decisions make fields including education employment marriage travel plans even medical treatment women kingdom also bound law wear long robes headscarf require consent male guardian legal actions prince killed ambassador said women would need permission guardians get license guardian car would allowed drive anywhere kingdom including islamic holy cities mecca medina women license gulf cooperation council countries would allowed drive saudi arabia added he said interior ministry would decide whether could professional drivers in terms international pr biggest overnight win saudi arabia particularly ms could possibly said jane kinninmont senior research fellow chateau house the position saudi women gradually improved late king abdullah since king salman took kingdom opening areas women government modernizing reforms that sparked tensions influential clerics upon whose support ruling family relies some reactions tuesday announcement reflected critics took twitter denounce decision accusing government bending verses sharia as far i remember sharia scholars said haram forbidden women drive how come suddenly become halal permissible another user wrote asked whether worried conservative backlash ambassador said on changes people drivers seat people back seat going move forward he added it women must drive women drive so women want drive saudi arabia choice some leading members country powerful austere sunny muslim clergy argued women allowed drive say could lead singling unrelated men thereby breaching strict gender segregation rules the decision could also broad economic impacts making possible women get work without driver also curling popularity car hailing apps like uber career prince killed son king said decision much economic reform social change his older brother crown prince mohammed become face reform kingdom past years many younger saudi regard ascent evidence generation taking central place running country whose patriarchal traditions decades made power province old blocked women progress oh god amazing ever since mohammed bin salman rise changes needed country said maria amanda event planner red sea city jeddah congratulations ladies real victory worldnews