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Saudi Arabia: Country of the Month

Saudi Arabia’s growing gender equality culture has captured my attention in the past thirty days. Here are some highlights of how it was able to:

Raha Moharrak:

On Friday, May 17, Raha Moharrak, a 27-year-old woman from Jeddah and part of a group of Arab mountaineers who call themselves ‘Arabs with Altitude,’ became the first Saudi woman, AND the youngest Arab, to climb Mount Everest. Moharrak explained that the process of getting her family to agree to this trip was more difficult than overcoming Everest itself, but stated that she has now has their full support. Upon her return, Moharrak made this inspiring statement:

“I really don’t care about being the first, so long as it inspires someone else to be the second.”

Moharrak’s achievement was not sponsored by the Saudi government, but still represents and inspires the nation and region’s women.

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Arwa Al Hujaili:

In 2005, universities in Saudi Arabia began accepting female law students into their programs. As those students started to graduate in 2008, however, graduates found it impossible to actually register as practicing lawyers. A whole campaign was started on Twitter, Youtube, and Facebook, calling for women who have law degrees to be allowed to become registered lawyers. After three years of being one of the leaders of this campaign and consistently petitioning, Arwa Al Hujaili, at 25 years old, has finally received her registration to practice as a trainee lawyer.
She states:

“People tell me I’m a pioneer and I feel I need to live up to what they expect of me. There’s a great sense of responsibility. From now on, people will look at everything I do.”

Al-Hujaili hopes to pursue a career in family law to help other Saudi women reach their goals.

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Tackling Domestic Abuse:

In a monumental step towards bringing to light the domestic abuse issue, Saudi Arabia has, for the first time, initiated a campaign called “No More Abuse,” seeking to remedy the culture of silence surrounding violence against women. The mission statement is direct and simple:

“The phenomenon of battered women in Saudi Arabia is much greater than is apparent on the surface. It is a phenomenon found in the dark. We want to achieve justice for all women and children exposed to abuse in all parts of the Kingdom.”

A poster obviously isn’t enough, but it is a significant initial step in bringing the attention needed to this issue, whether it is in Saudi Arabia or anywhere else.

domestic abuse

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Uncompromising Hope, Inspired by Ghassan Kanafani

This May marks the 65th anniversary of the Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) in Palestine in 1948 when over 700,000 Palestinians were forced off their land, in some cases at gunpoint, in other cases through massacres or threats of massacres like the massacre at Deir Yassin. Hundreds of villages were completely destroyed or depopulated. Today, the suffering in Palestine continues: from the expulsion of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank, to the demolition of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem, to the continued siege of the people of Gaza – deprived of food, water, electricity, and medicine- to the mass detention of tens of thousands of Palestinian political prisoners.

Each year we approach this date and I am overcome with a strong emotional reaction. It happened today. One thing I noticed this year is how deeply rooted this emotional connection to the Palestinian issue is, and that is one characteristic that is not unique to me, but widespread within the hearts of Palestinians around the world. This is a fascinating feat that is true even for third and fourth generation Palestinians who have never been to their homeland; a powerful emotional connection passed on from generation to generation.

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Along with these thoughts, when I woke up today there was one name on my mind: Ghassan Kanafani. Few Palestinian writers will ever evoke as strong a response as a mere mention of Ghassan Kanafani’s name does. A teacher, journalist, and writer, Kanafani’s wide reach of influence continues even today. His works will forever have a seamless connection to the hope of a free and peaceful Palestinian state, and it is his words that I will leave you with; for I can’t think of any better words to express the emotion that I know many of my readers feel today as well.

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“I heard you in the other room asking your mother, ‘Mama, am I a Palestinian?’ When she answered ‘Yes’ a heavy silence fell on the whole house. It was as if something hanging over our heads had fallen, its noise exploding, then – silence. Afterwards…I heard you crying. I could not move. There was something bigger than my awareness being born in the other room through your bewildered sobbing. It was as if a blessed scalpel was cutting up your chest and putting there the heart that belongs to you…I was unable to move to see what was happening in the other room. I knew, however, that a distant homeland was being born again: hills, olive groves, dead people, torn banners and folded ones, all cutting their way into a future of flesh and blood and being born in the heart of another child…Do you believe that man grows? No, he is born suddenly – a word, a moment, penetrates his heart to a new throb. One scene can hurl him down from the ceiling of childhood onto the ruggedness of the road.”

“I was just asking. I’m looking for the true Palestine, the Palestine that’s more than memories, more than peacock feathers, more than a son, more than scars written by bullets on the stairs… Tens of thousands like Khalid won’t be stopped by the tears of men searching in the depths of their defeat for scraps of armor and broken flowers. Men like Khalid are looking toward the future, so they can put right our mistakes and the mistakes of the whole world”

Until next time…

 

 

 

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Forbidden Voices

Kick-Ass Women of the Week:

Despite receiving death threats and being beaten, kidnapped, and imprisoned on many occasions, the heroes I introduce you to today have continued to fight for one cause. Three women have become a powerful voice around the world; all working towards helping their country achieve full-fledged human rights through the words they share on their respective blogs.

Yoani Sanchez, Zeng Jinyan, and Farnaz Seifi have faced significant obstacles from their regimes (Cuba, China, and Iran), but through it all have not been silenced.

Through her blog, Generation Y, Sanchez fights for the freedom of opinion and  press in her country Cuba. She publicizes the fate of government opponents and garners global attention to their fate, and campaigns for their release.

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Yoani Sanchez

Jinyan is a renowned Chinese human rights activist and English professor who has been under house arrest with her young daughter for over three years now because of her commitment to supporting freedom of speech and opinion in China, notoriously known for restricting the freedom of bloggers, and in many cases using violence to do so.

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Zeng Jinyan

Seifi was one of the first women in Iran to dare to defy an already suppressive regime and publish a blog in Farsi. Her blog, Amshaspandan, consistently criticized gender inequality and human rights violations in her country. In 2007, Seifi was forced into exile in Holland after struggling to obtain a student visa. The Iranian state, at that point, had declared her an enemy of the state.

Farnaz Seifi

Farnaz Seifi

The documentary film, Forbidden Voices, shares the stories of these brave young rebels, and how each of them transformed their blogs, Facebook profiles, and YouTube accounts into powerful tools to combat violations of freedom of speech and human rights in their country.

It is selfless and courageous actions like these that will trigger the international resonance needed to win these battles.

Here’s the trailer to the documentary film:

Happy weekend!
Until next time…

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The Marathon to Defeat Terrorism

The bombings that shook the Boston Marathon yesterday created waves of grief and sympathy around the globe. The race in itself is noted for drawing in thousands of runners from different backgrounds, nationalities, and religions; exemplifying the beauty of diversity in the United States. Investigations into the perpetrators and their motives are still ongoing.

The Dalai Lama XIV once said, “There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.”

Yesterday’s events in Boston demonstrated the depravity that humankind is capable of, but in numerous ways showcased our ability to drive out the hate with love, and darkness with light. This was immediately clear through runners crossing the finish line and continuing their run to the nearest hospital to donate blood to victims, and through prayers of support on personal Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Unfortunately, despite such instances, hatred is something we cannot escape, particularly when it is utilized in a reactionary form. I was sick to my stomach when I saw Erik Rush’s tweet stating:
“Everybody do the National Security Ankle Grab! Let’s bring more Saudis in without screening them! C’mon! #bostonmarathon,” and then went so far to respond to someone’s tweet by stating that all Muslims are evil and should be killed.”
Despite no nexus between the explosions and a Muslim or Arab, Rush immediately rushed to that conclusion.

On a different spectrum, my Twitter feed was also filled with a different reaction: “Please don’t be Muslim.”
Three innocent people were killed, among them an eight year old boy. 130 were injured. Unfortunately, these facts were of secondary significance to some Arabs and Muslim-Americans. Guilt, confusion, and anxiety consistently characterize Muslims and Arabs following
any such event, taking away from their ability to simply grieve and empathize their fellow citizens.

Other news stories yesterday included the death of thirty people during an Afghan wedding procession when a small village was bombed, as well as the death of over 50 people in Kirkuk, Iraq in the deadliest day in the country in over a month.

The takeaway: We see and hear of victims of terrorism in Syria, Libya, Iraq, Palestine, Pakistan, and Afghanistan every day. The death of an innocent, no matter where, is nothing short of horrifying. Queen Noor said it best,
“As believers we all have an opportunity and moral obligation to recognize our spiritual common ground; to rise above our differences; to combat prejudice and intolerance.”

Terrorism has no religion, and neither does grief. My thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones and all those who have been injured or affected by acts of terror around the world, from Boston to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, and Iraq.

 

 

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Naked Activism

Today I bring you the story of Amina Tyler, the 19-year-old young woman who has brewed a storm of controversy in Tunisia. Tyler around 10 days ago posted two photos of herself topless on Facebook. The first image showed Amina with the words “F*** your morals” written across her chest. The second has the words “My body belongs to me and is not the source of anyone’s honor” written in Arabic.

Amina Tyler

Apparently, she told a Tunisian newspaper that she posted these pictures to make the voice of Tunisian women heard and stand up against oppression.

Tyler became the founder of the feminist movement FEMEN in Tunisia in February.  FEMEN is a well-known activist group popular, as some of my readers will know, for protesting against Putin and former playboy Prime Minister Berlusconi. Amina has officially carried this movement to the Middle East.

Just like this story sparked a debate in Tunisia, it did the same in my head.

Women played a huge part in rallying alongside their fellow male citizens to bring down the dictators ruling their nations. The main political beneficiary of this change, as we are seeing, is the rise of Islamic movements. Many are now saying that as a result of this trend the rights of women are under threat.

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Rumors circulated around the web that Amina disappeared and was placed in a mental institute. A lawyer representing Tyler’s family then denied these rumors. Amina is apparently safe and back at home.

So here’s what’s going on in my head:

I am all for protesting for gender equality, especially in a country where technically speaking the government in the 1950s stipulated equality of sexes. Discrimination still exists obviously, and I continue to follow the protests that denounce an article in the draft constitution that describes women as being complementary to men.

I just do not know if posing completely naked and posting the picture to the general public is the way to go about any protest regardless of location. I think Amina has a lot to say and I stand by the idea that she has, but I do not agree with her methods. If she is against objectifying women I do not think that posing naked is the right way to convey that message.

I believe that especially in nations where Islamic movements are gaining traction, what we need to encourage is support for a moderate Islam that supports gender equality.

So my readers, what do YOU think? I know there is much to be done in the realm of gender equality for the entire region, but are methods like those of Amina’s the way to go?

Let’s continue the debate!

 

 

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Obama While You’re In Israel: Heed the Creed of MLK

Newspapers around the world are abuzz with headlines announcing Barack Obama’s first visit to Israel as President of the United States. “Obamamania” has taken over Jerusalem; whose city council has already strung up approximately 1000 Israeli and US flags throughout the city. The Office of Netanyahu held a vote on Facebook to decide on a slogan and logo for the visit. The winning design features a US and Israeli flag fused together with the words “Unbreakable Alliance” placed underneath: continuing the exceptional relationship the US has had with Israel for many years.

Many headlines, however, are leaving out the fact that stuffed into Obama’s busy itinerary in Israel are two visits to the Palestinian territories: one to Ramallah to meet with President Mahmoud Abbas, and one to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity.

These past few months have been filled with stories of racial tension between the Israelis and Palestinians. What’s most disturbing is that much of this tension is coming from younger generations. Obama’s visit has the potential to have a huge impact within this realm, especially since he is the first Black president, an achievement that would’ve been impossible without the works of his idol, Martin Luther King Jr.

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Obama was sworn in as President for his second term on the day MLK would have turned 84 years old. Both are recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, and both of their acceptance speeches viewed the pursuit of non-violence as the most rational option for conflict resolution in the world.

In 1964, Dr. King stated:
“This award which I receive… is profound recognition that non-violence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time – the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression… Civilization and violence are antithetical concepts.”

In 2009, President Obama echoed these ideas, praised Dr. King, and highlighted that violence should always be viewed as a last resort. He stated:
“As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of Dr. King’s life’s work, I am living testimony to the moral force of non-violence. I know there is nothing weak – nothing passive, nothing naïve – in the creed and lives of Gandhi and King.”

Palestinians today continue to face racist policies of segregation that eerily remind us of apartheid. Injustice is widespread, and Palestinians and Arabs are oftentimes presented as second-class citizens who have no right to be there. Illegal settlement building has not been stopped. UN resolutions are still ignored. Unnecessary civilian casualties continue.

So here’s hoping that President Obama holds the words and works of Martin Luther King close to his heart during this visit, and reminds both the Palestinians and Israelis of the importance of nonviolence. A peaceful solution to this conflict cannot be achieved if these principles of nonviolence are forgotten.

 

 

 

 

 

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Rachel Corrie: 10 Years Later

Rachel Corrie St. in Ramallah

Rachel Corrie St. in Ramallah

This past weekend marked the 10-year anniversary of Rachel Corrie’s death. My email was flooded with links to articles about her story, one that I am extremely familiar with. Her words, her impact, and her name have been carved into the hearts of Palestinians. Her story continues to captivate me.

According to her family, Corrie was killed attempting to prevent the demolition of a house owned by a Palestinian doctor and his family in Rafah.  As a bulldozer approached the doctor’s house, Corrie bravely stood in front of it, and used a megaphone in an attempt to stop the operator from demolishing the house. The bulldozer did not stop moving, trapping Rachel under its blade, and then backing up over her once more as fellow activists threw small stones and yelled frantically (also using megaphones) to get the attention of the operator to stop. Unfortunately, Corrie had suffered fatal injuries and attempts to save her life failed.

The IDF maintains their point of view that the operator of the bulldozer did not see Corrie, and this has been the central point in Rachel’s parents’ fight for justice. Several witnesses to the event describe Rachel standing atop of a pile of earth, and have consistently reiterated that there is no way that the driver did not see or hear her. Looking at one of the photos taken of Rachel moments before her death, I would agree with that fact. It seems to me that Rachel is definitely in the driver’s line of vision.

Corrie was an activist in every sense of the word. Her passion for the Palestinian cause was social above anything else, as she focused her letters, writings, and interviews on the impact the occupation was having on the livelihood of the Palestinians, especially children. In one interview, Corrie described what she was seeing as the “systematic destruction of a people’s ability to survive.” That was exactly what she was trying to prevent. Because she was American, her story became a rare Western lens into the plight of the Palestinian people, and the human rights violations they continue to face today.

Forced evictions and house demolitions are illegal under international law. Corrie was well aware of this fact, and died trying to preserve this basic right.

My thoughts today are with her family, and with the families of all those who lost a loved one at the hands of the occupying forces.

American Peace Activist Killed By Israeli Bulldozer

 

 

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