Its decision came even as activists hailed increasing reports of women getting behind the wheel in defiance of the ban ahead of a nationwide protest they are planning for later this month.

The Shura Consultative Council, which counts 30 women among its 150 members, rejected a move by one female member to raise the issue during a discussion today of transport ministry matters, the official SPA news agency reported. It said the issue was "irrelevant" to the discussions and "not within the transport ministry's remit."