Manal Al-Sharif defied Saudi Arabia's female driving ban

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A women's rights activist who was jailed after she bravely defied Saudi Arabia's female driving ban has opened up about the ordeal.

Manal Al-Sharif, who now lives in Sydney, spent nine days behind bars after being charged with 'driving while female' after she uploaded a YouTube video of herself travelling through the streets of Khobar in May 2011.

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that forbids women from driving - but the ban did not deter the now 38-year-old from taking back control over her life.

However, the protest that gained global attention came with consequences.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the doting mother-of-two shared her heartbreak of having to live in two worlds after losing custody over her son, now aged 11.