( CNN ) -- Saudi Arabia 's Interior Ministry issued a warning to women caught driving and anyone engaging in demonstrations Saturday , as activists have called on the country to defy a Saudi de facto ban on women driving . Without outlining how laws would be applied and what punishment might be doled out to offenders , Saudi Arabia 's Interior Ministry spokesman , Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said , `` All violations will be dealt with -- whether demonstrations or women driving . '' `` Not just on the 26th . Before and after , '' added Al-Turki . `` At all times . '' Opinion : Give Saudi women the right to drive . Meanwhile , several Saudi women supporting the October 26th Women 's Driving Campaign say they received threatening calls Thursday from men claiming to represent the Interior Ministry , according to women 's rights activists who requested anonymity . The callers warned the women not to drive before , on or after Saturday , the activists said . Some of the activists expressed doubt that the callers were actually from the Interior Ministry . Originally , Al-Turki denied any calls were made , but he later contacted CNN to clarify his comments . He said the phone calls were a public relations move the ministry undertook to help some people understand a written statement made Wednesday . Saudi Arabia had released a statement that said , `` Laws will be fully enforced that day . '' The statement , which was issued on Saudi Arabia 's official news agency , also said , `` The laws of the Kingdom prohibit activities disturbing the public peace and opening venues to sedition . '' Al-Turki told CNN that some women were contacted by the Interior Ministry and were asked to not drive . `` There was absolutely no threat to the women contacted . The communication was made to make sure the women understood the statement , '' he told CNN . `` It seemed some people did not understand the statement , and they expressed this publicly in one way or another . '' Several supporters of the driving campaign said they did n't believe the government was aiming that statement at female drivers , but at those who might stage protests in a nation where they 're outlawed . Saudi Arabia has tight controls on all gatherings . Al-Turki made it clear the statement applies to both parties . Activist Manal Al-Sharif , who now lives in the United Arab Emirates after being jailed for a week after posting a video of herself driving in 2011 , took it as a positive sign that the government has stated its position on women driving . `` They kept telling the world that the women 's driving issue was one for Saudi society to decide upon , '' she said . `` Society is now showing it is supportive of the idea of women driving . The government 's reaction makes it very clear this is not a societal decision . This is a political decision . '' She further characterized the government statement as `` clarity . '' `` We 've been in the dark for a long time . Now we 're in the light and we know what we 're facing , '' she said . Saudi blogger and opinion writer Tamador Alyami , a supporter of the campaign who recently posted a video showing her driving in the city of Jedda , noted that a Twitter account supporting Saudi political prisoners recently `` tweeted a message saying you have to take advantage of this day , that it 's an opportunity to go out there and demonstrate and ask for the rights of the political prisoners . '' No traffic law specifically prohibits women from driving in Saudi Arabia , but religious edicts there are often interpreted to mean women are not allowed to operate a vehicle . Saudi cleric warns driving could damage women 's ovaries . In late September , an online movement was launched urging Saudi women to get behind the wheel . The October 26th Women 's Driving Campaign quickly gained momentum , with its online petition having so far garnered more than 16,000 signatures . In addition , numerous Saudi women have already taken to the streets -- filming themselves driving in various cities , and then uploading those videos to YouTube . The language of the Interior Ministry 's statement `` shows that it was n't really about the 26th of October movement , '' Alyami said . `` They 've known about this campaign for a few months and there 's been no attempt to stop ( it ) . If they 've let it go this far , that should reassure us . '' Indeed , many women who have been out driving report having been spotted by traffic police who have n't stopped them . Alyami said she drove her car again on Wednesday to her parents ' house and passed two traffic policemen . `` One of the traffic policemen saw me and did n't stop me . I was scared , but when he just drove by and went away , I felt so happy , so reassured and more determined than ever to go out on the 26th . '' Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch each issued a statement calling for an end to the ban . `` It 's past time to address the country 's systemic discrimination ; driving could open roads to reform , '' said Rothna Begum , a researcher with Human Rights Watch . Saudi blogger detained , but she 's hopeful about campaign to allow women to drive .
Interior Ministry says calls were n't meant as threats . Comment: Saudi Interior Ministry warns women not to drive , protesters not to demonstrate . October 26th Women 's Driving Campaign urges women to get behind wheel .