TAWAKKOL KARMAN

 

TAWAKKOL KARMAN (b. 1979)

Tawakkol Karman (born 7 February 1979, Ta’izz, Yemen) is a human rights activist, journalist and politician. She played a key role in the 2011 pro-democracy youth uprising in Yemen and was reportedly called the "Iron Woman" and "Mother of the Revolution". Karman was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee, in recognition of “...her non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work.” Karman is the first Arab woman and the second Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and at the time was the youngest recipient at 32.

Tawakkol Karman was born on 7 February 1979 in Shara'b As Salam, Taiz Governorate, Yemen. She grew up near Taiz, which is the third largest city in Yemen and is described as a place of learning in a conservative country. She studied in Taiz. She is the daughter of Abdel Salam Karman, a lawyer and politician, who once served and later resigned as Legal Affairs Minister in Ali Abdullah Saleh's government. She has worked as a journalist since earning a degree in political science from Sana'a University.

Growing up in a politically tumultuous country, Tawakkol witnessed the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990, followed by a civil war between the two factions in 1994 in which the North triumphed over the South. The civil war led to dissidence in the South as the repressive Northern government assumed control over the country.

Following the footsteps of her inspirations, Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi, Tawakkol has become one of the pioneer leaders in the Middle East to promote the culture of non-violence as a means to fight political oppression and bring institutional change.

In a male-dominated tribal country, Tawakkol caught the attention and admiration of the world and international media for her fearless leadership as a young woman mobilizing thousands of Yemenis in her call for the outset of late President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Through her non-violent approach, Tawakkol was able to reverse the stereotypical image that portrayed her country Yemen as a source of terrorism and violence. Along with her revolutionary comrades, Tawakkol has proven to the world how peaceful and aspiring to peace the Yemeni people are.

Tawakkol’s strive for the non-violent resistance started since an early age. In her recounts of childhood, She have organized multiple protests in her school against unfair treatments of students. Karman has then grown up to be a well-versed journalist struggling for human rights and justice. 

Her political activism started long before the Arab spring. She started calling for the outset of the regime of late President Ali Saleh in 2007 by publishing articles in Yemeni newspapers.

As a journalist, she wrote extensively and bravely about injustices and civil rights violations, despite the country’s severely restricted media environment. In 2005 she founded Women Journalists Without Chains to advocate for freedom of the press, and worked as a campaigning journalist, reporting on government injustice and human rights issues, including malnutrition and illiteracy among girls.

In 2005, Karman was one of eight female journalists who founded the human rights group Women Journalists Without Chains. The group promoted press freedom and mobile phone news services, which were tightly controlled.

In 2007, Tawakkol began organizing weekly protests in front of the Yemeni Cabinet in Sana’a, targeting systemic government repression and calling for inquiries into corruption and other forms of social and legal injustice. She called the Square aroung the Cabinet “ Freedom Square”. The Freedom Square became the main destination for all people to decry injustices. Since then, Tawakkol led more than 100 peaceful demonstrations, sit-ins, and solidarity events to protest judicial and governmental procedures against press freedom and journalists. She along with her colleagues has been attacked by thugs in their weekly protests and faced frequent defamation campaigns led by the regime’s media outlets. Tawakkol’s weekly protests continued until 2011, when she redirected protesters to support the Arab Spring.

Tawakkol’s fearless spirit and powerful activism put her in great danger. She has been socially defamed, threatened, and politically imprisoned. On January 22, 2010, she was kidnaped while driving with her husband by three plain-clothed men without police identification and was taken to prison. At that very moment, Tawakkol realized how her peaceful protests have scared the regime and how the regime’s  aggression is driven by nothing but fear. Her arrest sparked nation-wide demonstrations and condemnations. Her arrest along with the social and political support she received increased her courage, defiance, and longing for a democratic and civil government. She left her prison more determent to continue protesting.

In early 2011, With the participation of many youth activists,Tawakkol co-founded the Council of the Peaceful Popular Youth Revolution. However, shortly after its establishment, to lead the marches and the revolution.

After her long persisting peaceful struggle, Tawakkol along with her revolutionary comraded, succeeded in ousting late president Ali Saleh after 32 years of authoritarian and corrupt ruling. Saleh was forced out to sign his resignation. Post removing Saleh from power, Tawakkol has been politically active during the transitional period.

Tawakkol has inspired women in Yemen by setting an example that women are capable of doing anything they set their minds to, including political reforms. She said, "Behind every great revolution, there are brave women".

With regard to her international cause, Tawakkol always defines herself as a universal citizen with the global message of equal citizenship and equal humanity. She always calls for co-existence between different cultures, religions, and politics. She holds a strong position against authoritarianism, dictatorship, and oppression. That is why she firmly supports the uprisings in the Arab Spring Countries.

Karman’s courage and achievements have been recognized around the world. She has received various awards and accolades. 2011 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Ellen John Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee, in recognition of her leadership in non-violent struggle and her advocacy against authoritarianism, corruption, and oppression. Karman is the first Arab woman and the second Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. and at the time was the youngest recipient at 32.

Like many Yemenis, Karman was forced to leave her country after the capital's takeover by Houthi rebels amid the deteriorating security situation.

From her new home in Istanbul, Karman continues to speak out against injustices committed in Yemen, including the war waged by the Saudi-UAE-led coalition and US drone attacks in her homeland.

(https://www.mediatheque.lindau-nobel.org/laureates/karman; https://nobelwomensinitiative.org/laureate/tawakkol-karman/

https://www.tawakkolkarman.net/enabout.html)