Saudi migrant in Australia who helped overturn driving ban for women too scared to return home

One of the first women to drive a car in protest in Saudi Arabia, Manal al-Sharif, is too scared to visit her homeland, after allegedly receiving several death threats from abroad and from within Australia.

Fürchtet um ihr Leben: Die saudische Aktivistin Manal al-Sharif in Australien Source: SBS

Ms al-Sharif performed her dangerous stint seven years ago, spearheading a movement to promote women's autonomy and independence in the strictly Muslim country.

The movement claimed one of several victories when Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman al Saud announced he would lift the ban on women driving cars.

Vorsichtiger Reformer: Kronprinz Mohamed bin Salman al Saud Source: EPA

The new law to allow women to drive comes into effect on 24 June 2018. It is one of several measures introduced by the 32-year-old reformer, defence minister and first in line to the throne.

Saudi activist Manal al-Sharif has cancelled plans to drive from East Saudi to West Saudi to celebrate the lifting of the ban on women drivers. Source: Getty

Ms al-Sharif, who left her job and now lives in Australia, was looking forward to return to Saudi Arabia. She wanted to be one of the first Saudi women to get a driver's licence.

Her plan was to drive a car from East to West, right through the heartland of Wahhabism, to celebrate her and her fellow activists' achievement.

Saudi-Arabien: Seit jeher die Wiege des Wahhabismus, mit seinen strengen religiösen Regeln und Vorschriften Source: SBS

However, Ms al-Sharif claims the movement to allow women to drive in Saudi Arabia is being undermined by powerful forces in her homeland and from figures within Australia.

Fellow campaigners are being arrested and targeted in a smear campaign. She received several death threats for her part in changing Saudi policy, also from within Australia.

Ms al-Sharif has reported those threats to NSW police and has reluctantly cancelled her flights.

"I'm never afraid of going back to my country. I just ... I think being outside jail and speaking up will be more beneficial to the cause than being in Saudi Arabia and in jail. I was really hopeful, and I really wanted to go and get my Saudi driver's licence. It's devastating, and I'm surprised, and I don't understand why this is happening."