Nobel Laureate Karman Addresses Yemeni Revolution and Women’s Empowerment

by Rashad Mulla

Nobel Laureate Karman Addresses Yemeni Revolution and Women’s Empowerment
Tawakkul Karman.

An influential and polarizing figure in Yemen's recent revolution brought her message to a packed audience of George Mason University students, faculty, staff, as well as the surrounding community.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkul Karman, the Yemeni civil, human, and women’s rights activist, spoke to a standing room only crowd in Mason Hall’s Edwin Meese III Conference Room on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The enthusiastic audience filled the room, and spilled into the hallway. A short reception in the Mason Hall atrium followed the speech.

Karman discussed the Yemeni revolution from her own perspective, citing the need to speak out against what she and others feel are unfair and unlawful policies mandated by the Yemeni government. She described her role in the revolution as a voice of the voiceless, an unlikely scenario considering she is a woman, she said. As the tide of revolution swept over the Middle East, Karman said she and others in Yemen grew more confident and bold.

“The same confidence that started to trickle into the Arab people’s lives came also through to Arab women,” Karman said in her speech, through translator Ghassan Husseinali, an Arabic professor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. “So, the same woman who was perceived by [her] own cultures or communities as a victim started to believe in herself and started to be perceived as somebody who can make a decision or make change.”

Mason alumna Angham Al-Shami (BA Global Affairs ’07 and MA International Commerce and Policy ’10), who was instrumental in organizing the event on campus, said Karman’s speech was important for the university, considering the school’s reputation for training leaders and scholars. Personally, Al-Shami said she was proud to witness Karman’s speech. 

“There she was, one of the most inspiring women in the world speaking from a podium that is very close to my heart,” Al-Shami said. “As a Muslim Yemeni, I am very proud of her and our youth for their courage, persistence and strength.”

Suzanne Scott, director of the Women and Gender Studies Program at Mason, introduced Karman and said afterward that it was an honor to welcome the Nobel Laureate, who is the first Arab woman, the second Muslim woman, and one of 15 women overall to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Her focus on peaceful protests in her presentation had a great impact, even though she was speaking in Arabic and working with an interpreter,” Scott said. “Her passion was contagious! I was grateful for the opportunity to introduce this powerful young woman.”

Ezzat Shehadeh, program coordinator for the Ali Vural Ak Center for Global Islamic Studies, called Karman one of the most charismatic and inspiring people of the generation. As a member of the center, Shehadeh has had an eye on the unfolding events in Yemen throughout the last year. 

“Her stories from the front lines of recent protests in Yemen brought to light the courage it takes, especially that of millions of brave Yemeni women, to fight oppression on every level,” Shehadeh said. “I truly feel privileged to have heard her speak at Mason in one of the most memorable events I've ever been a part of on campus.”

College dean Jack Censer attended the event.  “I was deeply impressed by her passion and optimism,” he said. “The most moving part for me was when she led her fellow Arabic speakers in song. It was great watching so many participate in that.”

Karman founded the group “Women Journalists Without Chains” in 2005 to advocate for freedom of expression. Her goal is to be a powerful voice for women’s rights and equality, democracy, peace and freedom of expression in Yemen.

Her next speaking arrangement after Mason came at the State Department, where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton personally introduced her.

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences sponsored the evening’s events.

Paul King, PR coordinator and multimedia specialist in Mason's Office of Media and Public Relations, filmed the event for the university. See the speech in its entirety below:

 

Thumbnail image courtesy of Ezzat Shehadeh.