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Yemeni first Arab woman to win Nobel Peace Prize
Tawwakol Karman, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday, is known as the "mother of the revolution" in Yemen.In January, she was arrested for a few hours in an effort to intimidate her. Instead, it prompted thousands of women to protest in the streets of Sanaa and other cities. She was released the next day. Hours later, Ms Karman was back protesting. "This was the changing point of the Yemeni revolution," said Mohammed Allow, the president of HOOD, a human right organisation in Yemen. The first Arab woman to win the peace prize, Karman went to Sanaa University and was a leader in support of the Islah party during her university days. Her outspoken opinions caused controversy in a country where women were taught to remain quiet. Over time, Karman became one of the few skilled female writers in Yemen. She had organised protests as early as 2007, referring to her gatherings outside government offices as the "Freedom square". She has campaigned for years for greater rights for women and has been organising smaller-scale protests demanding an end to harassment of journalists and greater freedom of expression. She has secured the release of many journalists who were jailed since 2009. When Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was forced out of Tunisia in December, Karman led a small protest calling for Saleh to step down. Such chants as "Leave, leave Saleh," and "The people want the fall of the regime" were unprecedented in Yemen. Observing her role in the continuing protests, the government began to harass Karman, spreading rumours that she was mingling with male protesters. They also indirectly threatened her, telling her brother that if he could not control his sister, she'd be killed. The threats and rumours did not deter her. A member of Yemen's opposition Islamic fundamentalist Islah Party, Karman, once wore the niqab. But last year, she changed to a headscarf, covering just her hair, saying she wanted to be "face to face with my activist colleagues". Ms Karman said the time has arrived for women to lead. "Saleh does not want to be overthrown by a woman and that is why he is holding on to power. History will repeat itself and the daughters of Yemen's Queen Sheba are here to stay and rule." "We laughed at her when she started her weekly protests two years ago. Today through protests, she leads the Yemeni revolution," said Hareth Showkani, an opposition official. For Karman the revolution will not be complete until Mr Saleh resigns. She said, "The positive winds of change must flow through Yemen and rule must return to the people. This is what the revolution is all about." Posted by: ryuge 2011-10-07 |
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