Saudi council urges easing ban on women driving

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — A Saudi official says the kingdom's advisory council has recommended to the government for the first time the partial lifting of the ban on women driving, but with conditions: Only women over 30, only during the day, and no makeup allowed while driving.

The official told the Associated Press on Friday that the Shura Council made the recommendations during a secret, closed session in the past month. The council, which is appointed by the king, advises the government but its recommendations are not mandatory. The official, a member of the council, spoke on condition of anonymity because the recommendations had not been made public.

The driving ban, unique in the world, is imposed because the kingdom's ultraconservative Muslim clerics say "licentiousness" will spread if women drive.