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I HAVE NO ARMY AGAINST DICTATORS, BUT I HAVE MY WORDS
Tyrants become most enraged when confronted with the truth about who they really are or when their crimes are exposed by any means and in all places. I never pass up the chance to do it. Even if I lack an army to fight these strong spoilers, I do have my word, my connections, and my positions. Thus, opposing tyrants and their harsh actions against people should be every human rights defender’s first priority.
Yüksel Durgut
The world knows Tawakkol Karman as the “iron woman”, the “mother of the revolution” and the “woman of the Arab Spring”. As a journalist, human rights activist and politician, she became a figurehead of the Arab Spring as well as the pro-democracy protests in Yemen in 2011. She was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize along with Ellen John Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee for her non-violent leadership in the struggle and her advocacy against authoritarianism, corruption and repression.
She is the first woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in the Arab world and the second in the Muslim world after Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi (2003). She was 32 years old and in a tent in a square when she received the news that she had won the Nobel Peace Prize.
We spoke to Tawakkol Karman about her role in the Arab Spring and her human rights advocacy today.
What inspired you to become a journalist and human rights activist?
My hatred of injustice and belief that supporting the downtrodden is essential if we want to see meaningful change in the country in which we live served as my inspiration for it. I think that if injustice toward others is not stopped, eventually it will impact you.
Since 2011, you have become one of the symbols of the Arab Spring and the pro-democracy protests in Yemen. What has changed in your life in the past 12 years?
Not many things have changed, so some accuse me of still having a very sharp tone toward various subjects. This may be the case, but no matter what the repercussions, I cannot praise tyrants while ignoring breaches of human rights. My access to platforms where I may express myself freely is the genuine shift I can point to.
You told people to “wake up” and “defend their rights” and stand up to “injustice and corruption”. Has anyone heard this voice outside Yemen, especially in Islamic countries?
I believe that people have an effect on each other, and it would be the same in my case. I can confirm that, yes, my voice is being heard both domestically and abroad, and as with any voice that refuses to make concessions, opinions towards my voice are divided. While some support my stances against oppressive governments, others believe I am part of a global conspiracy to sow instability. In fact, a person’s attitude depends on their degree of acceptance or resistance to tyranny and injustice. My positions are questioned by individuals who consider oppressive governments to be national regimes, which does not upset me or change my main positions.
You did not remain silent about the authorities’ threats to “be silent”. In countries dominated by one-man regimes, journalists in particular are on the side of the strongman. What would you advise these journalists?
A journalist is not a clown or a phony witness, and all journalists should keep in mind that their work is more significant than being on the governments’ doorstep.
Your work has brought you into conflict with the Yemeni government and other powerful entities. Have you ever felt afraid for your safety? How did you deal with this fear?
If I told you I wasn’t afraid, I’d be lying. Everyone experiences dread naturally, but I don’t respond excessively to it. I consider protecting one’s rights to be a noble honor well worth the cost. Without noble positions, life is worthless.
You have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for your nonviolent efforts to promote peace and your fight for women’s rights.” What kind of struggles can be waged without violence in a geography where wars have been going on for years?
The peaceful struggle is more difficult under the rule of law-breaking militias and armed organizations. But even in the most difficult situations, like in the fight against the infringement of people’s personal rights, it is always possible to fight nonviolently by exposing the de facto authorities, making clear to the populace their true nature, and discrediting their false claims. Also, any effort to bring about social change must also include the fight for women’s rights since doing so will aid in the fall of the current structures of political and religious tyranny.
You said that “The world has done nothing to stop the atrocities against Yemenis”. Can we say the same with regard to, for example, Afghanistan or Syria?
Yes. The world’s same abandonment and indifference that my own country experienced also occurred in Syria and Afghanistan. If not, how is it justified to give these peoples over to brutal rulers who persecute their own people? This isn’t, in my opinion, appropriate conduct. I think it’s crucial to put an end to these atrocities, and I think it’s wrong to tolerate governments that violate human rights and rule by intimidating their citizens.
In general, totalitarian regimes dominate the world. What do you think is the biggest threat to democracy right now? Can we go back to democracy for peace between people?
Racism, in my opinion, poses the largest threat to democracy. Regrettably, it is alarming that certain Western politicians push to turn democracies like the United States and Europe into a replica of the Middle East. There is a need to defend democracy from its adversaries, and US President Biden made a statement to similar effect in his inaugural address.
SUPPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS FOR A FREE PRESS IS VITAL
What are the motives that motivate you to work in the “Women Journalists Without Chains” project?
I inspire that both the press and those who work in it should be completely free, with their only restraints coming from their own consciences. In my opinion, my country needs a lot of things, including a free press, organizations that defend rights, courses that prepare people to work in this industry, and protection for citizens’ right to free expression. In a country like Yemen, where the rule of law still does not exist to defend rights and freedoms, human rights organizations are essential.
When Jamal Khashoggi was murdered, you fought hard for his killers to be punished. Journalists have been killed or imprisoned in many parts of the world. As a journalist, what would you like to say to those who target journalists?
Those who attack journalists provide proof against themselves. What leads a government or powerful individual to target the media? They undoubtedly worry that the truth will be revealed. If they believe that they can conceal the truth, they are mistaken; they cannot accomplish their goals.
TODAY’S YOUTH CAN NOT BE CONSTRAINED BY IDEOLOGIES
You have spoken a lot about the power of youth and the importance of getting youth involved in activism. How have you seen youth participation in human rights and democracy movements change over time, and what role do you think they will play in shaping the future of Yemen and the broader Middle East?
In many nations, young people make up the majority of the population. They are highly capable, have a greater understanding of the world, are not constrained by ideologies, and have the power to improve plenty of things. I think Yemen’s young can bring about significant changes because of their abilities and cultural background. It is in their interest to create a world without violence and strife. Young people are quickly launching campaigns of solidarity and support for civil rights concerns, and the majority of them reject appeals for racism, as is evident. Also, it is encouraging to see how eager young people are to freely express their beliefs and their desire in expanding their knowledge.
You were called the “Mother of the Revolution” when you started going out every week in protest. What are your suggestions for young journalists and activists living under authoritarian regimes? What advice would you give to young people who want to make a difference in the world, but feel overwhelmed or unsure where to start?
I advise them against making free compromises, informing them that they are more aware of their surroundings and have a better aptitude than others to comprehend the consequences of their choices. They must maintain optimism and refrain from making concessions if they are to succeed. The most important thing for them to do is to refrain from supporting such regimes.
It’s crucial for young people to understand that change for the better is a principle that shouldn’t be compromised if they want to make a difference but feel unprepared or overwhelmed. We can first begin to develop ourselves scientifically, culturally, and economically if the circumstances are not favorable for engaging in legitimate political action. We can begin improving ourselves. This is critical for us, our nation, and our just causes.
TWO THINGS I NEVER FORGET
What has been the most important moment or achievement in your career so far? Is there a moment you will never forget?
Two significant events in my life will always be seared into my memory. The first day signifies the start of Yemen’s peaceful revolution. It was a moment I worked very hard to achieve and eagerly waited for. I planned and led protests to uphold rights and liberties in several cities. I was one of the young people who helped draft the declaration urging peaceful protests on the evening of that promised day. The following day, we walked outside and started calling for the overthrow of the dictatorship; we stayed in that position until the regime had been overthrown and a transitional authority had been declared.
As regards the other day, that was the day the news broke that I had won the Nobel Peace Prize. I saw this as a universal acknowledgment of the fairness of our cause and the greatness of our fight for liberty and democracy.
KUTU KUTU
AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES ARE NOT THE FATE
You said: “It is the dictators who are afraid, they all know that their time is limited.” But in turn, millions of people leave their country and live in exile. How can you give hope to those who have left authoritarian regimes?
There is no doubt that the dictator lives in fear, and as a result, he builds a fortress around himself with his soldiers, laws, and crimes. It is true that authoritarian regimes have led to the emigration of millions of people, but this emigration is not a choice to stop caring about what is happening in the country; rather, it is a search for security, a need for a means of support, or a desire for knowledge. Nonetheless, everyone of them is committed to their nation with unwavering conviction. By their remittances, migrants frequently aid in the growth of their nations as well as the resilience and cohesion of their societies. In any case, dictatorships create weak states and ultimately fall down. Everyone, whether they are inside or outside, is aware of this. I want to tell every immigrant who, in my opinion, possesses a clean national sense that authoritarian regimes are not destiny; some of them fell apart years ago, and the rest will fall apart when the time is right.
