Madeha al-Ajroush
Madeha al-Ajroush | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation(s) | Psychotherapist, photographer, women's rights activist |
Website | madehaalajroush |
Madeha al-Ajroush is a
Women's rights activism
In 1990, al-Ajroush took part in the first protests by Saudi women against the ban on women driving.[1] As a result of these actions, al-Ajroush was detained and lost her job and passport.[2][3] With the first Gulf War taking place in neighbouring Kuwait, "Seeing female U.S. soldiers stationed in Saudi Arabia driving gave the women the push they needed to act".[4] As an additional punishment for this action, photographic negatives created by al-Ajroush over 15 years were burned by Saudi authorities.[5]
In 2013, al-Ajroush told The Telegraph, '"Back in 1990 I was absolutely terrified," she said. "And there was no social media to highlight what we were doing and protect us."'[6]
Around 15–18 May 2018, she was detained by Saudi authorities, along with
According to The Independent, the arrests came "just six weeks before Saudi Arabia is due to lift the world’s only ban on women driving."[12]
Madeha al-Ajroush and
References
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ Nafjan, Eman Al (8 March 2012). "This year let's celebrate … the Saudi women's driving campaign | Eman Al Nafjan". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "Saudi women driving campaigners detained and branded traitors". The Independent. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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- ^ "From women taking the wheel to the arrival of cinemas, Saudi Arabia is changing". Mainichi Daily News. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia 'arrests women's rights activists'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ Saudi government detains seven women's rights activists, May 20, 2018
- ^ Saudi Arabia arrests female activists weeks before lifting of driving ban, By Sarah El Sirgany and Hilary Clarke, May 21, 2018, CNN
- ^ "Saudi Arabia: Women's Rights Advocates Arrested". Human Rights Watch. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "Saudis detain women's advocates ahead of driving ban lift". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "Saudi women driving campaigners detained and branded traitors". The Independent. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ Saudi Arabia releases 3 women as other activists still held, May 24, 2018 ABC news