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| Arabia |
| Yemeni first Arab woman to win Nobel Peace Prize |
| 2011-10-07 |
| 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 |
| #15 Occasionally I get jumped and duck-taped to the wicker and forced to watch a channel which used to play music videos. Show was about youngster in the magic kingdom attempting to buck the system - one was a gal who wanted to use a color other than black, one was a guy who was attempting to open government up to women, and another was a group of kids who played death metal. I was agaped, shaking my head. I think there was only one episode, as 2 weeks later I read that they had all been arrested. With the NPPs record, I think it is appropriate to be skeptical. Hillarious cartoon. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2011-10-07 16:24 |
#14 From Commentary:but perhaps itÂ’s time to ask Karman about Islah, the political party to which news reports say she belongs. Back in 2010, The New York TimesÂ’ Steve Erlanger did a feature on Al Eman University in the Yemeni capital of SanaÂ’a: |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2011-10-07 15:48 |
| #13 How'd you know it's a diamond and not more of the same, Pappy? I don't. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-10-07 14:45 |
| #12 What Tawwakol Karman has been doing takes some real gonads. But there is just something, umm, inspirational about a Nobel Peace Prize thread here. LOL |
| Posted by: ryuge 2011-10-07 13:53 |
| #11 |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2011-10-07 13:02 |
| #10 To paraphrase something that TW said some months back: In dealing with Islamists, some of the military Rantburgundians have looked down the throat of hell. They have good reason to be skeptical of any Muslim. Meanwhile, creaky old people like me are tutoring individuals, including Muslims. I have known some Saudis who behave like princely brats. I have also seen decent Saudis wrestle with serious cognitive dissonance as they learn something new, and make a real effort to learn more things that challenge their assumptions. These people stand a chance of doing some real good in the world. The Muslim woman I am tutoring presently has daughters growing up here. I see a real chance for them to make real contributions for good also. Some people fight evil with guns. Some people fight evil by standing against it in a place hostile to independent thought. Some people do something simple to fight evil in their neighborhoods. Are you on the front lines--militarily or personally--or just bitching from the sidelines? |
| Posted by: mom 2011-10-07 12:57 |
| #9 Frank, you forgot your little winking emoticon, so that you wouldn't look like a brat. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-10-07 12:33 |
| #8 How'd you know it's a diamond and not more of the same, Pappy? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2011-10-07 12:11 |
| #7 you're not my real mom |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-10-07 12:04 |
| #6 A member of Yemen's opposition Islamic fundamentalist Islah Party, Karman, once wore the niqab. Here's a clue. Peace isn't her goal. |
| Posted by: Eohippus Phater7165 2011-10-07 11:34 |
| #5 Gentlemen: Any woman who stands up for women's rights in hellholes like Yemen deserves recognition. One worthy example in a long, long string of politically-induced farces. One diamond, perched on a high heap of dung. Pheh. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2011-10-07 11:22 |
| #4 Some recent winners: Obama, Gore, El Baradi, Carter, Annan, Arafat. Don't get on my case for turning the Nobel Peace Prize into a fucking joke, okay? Talk to the nominating committee who put themselves in the position. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2011-10-07 10:41 |
| #3 Gentlemen: Any woman who stands up for women's rights in hellholes like Yemen deserves recognition. Get your minds off Obama for five minutes and give credit where credit is due. |
| Posted by: mom 2011-10-07 10:23 |
#2 But, first, a word from our sponsor... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2011-10-07 10:21 |
| #1 unfortunately for Ms. Karman, the prize was diminished and tarnished by its' previous award to Baracky O'bama |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-10-07 09:55 |