Loujain al-Hathloul

    Born on July 31st, 1989, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Loujain al-Hathloul is best known for her women to drive movement. This young woman is a rights activist, social media figure, and a former political prisoner. After spending five years in Jeddah, Loujain's family had moved to France for five years and then ended up returning back to Saudi Arabia. However, Loujain had moved to Canada to pursue her bachelor's in French Literature. She attended the University of British Columbia and had graduated in 2013. After her bachelor's, Loujain worked and started her MA in social researcher at Sorbonne University. She was supposed to be graduating from Sorbonne University the year she got arrested. Al- Hathloul has been sadly arrested and released on continuous occasions. These occasions include denying the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia and for prominent women rights activists, on the charge of "attempting to destabilize the kingdom" after being kidnapped in the United Arab Emirates. This woman has been so courageous and has been through so much that anyone could imagine. She so very much believes in women's rights and clearly will do anything for it. Thousands admire her more and more every day. More information about her arrest, torture, & charges

    Growing up in Saudi Arabia was difficult for Loujain al-Hathloul, and many other women by not having the right to drive a car. Therefore Loujain al-Hathloul did not let this side. She is dedicated to improving the conditions for children and women in Saudi Arabia. Her activism started during her studies in Canada through her social media. Which then led her to become one of the leaders in the Saudi Women's Rights movement. She was the head voice in the movements "Together We Stand To End Male Guardian Ship of Women" and "Women Demand the Overthrow of Guardianship" by raising awareness online and sharing information all over. She also managed to direct a "driving campaign" where she and other advocates had taken photos of themselves driving in the streets of Saudi Arabia in defiance of the driving ban for women. Her warm hearting self has furthermore established a shelter for women escaping domestic violence that not only provided a place for comfort but went beyond to help them integrate back into society safely. 

    This young woman, age thirty-one, saw the wrongfulness of women not being able to have their own rights in Saudi Arabia and to be mostly controlled by men. She was fighting for the right for women to drive, ending male guardianship, creating a women's shelter, and for civil rights. In which she did make all these things possible. There was only one country left in the world where women couldn't drive and, it was Saudi Arabia. However, thanks all to Loujain al-Hathloul she made it possible and gave hope for the women. Thousands of women were commenting that "it's the best feeling in the world, I can drive to work, I can drive my children, go sightseeing around my country." Critics say that the changes taking place here still amount to baby steps and, Saudi women still need permission from a male guardian to travel abroad, but they have come a long way, thanks to Loujain al-Hathloul and all the women for have fought. In 2015 in Saudi Arabia, women for the first time were allowed to vote and be elected. Loujain al-Hathloul is an amazing woman and leader. She was ranked third in the list of "Top 100 Most Powerful Arab Women 2015", PEN America announced that al-Hathloul would receive the 2019 PEN America/ Barbey Freedom to Write Award, was named one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of 2019", was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 and 2020 and to top it off she is shortlisted for the 2020 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize, which the winner will be announced on April 16th, 2021. Where she so deserves to win.

    The latest news on  Loujain al-Hathloul, according to Amnesty International, was released from prison on February 10th, 2021(Amnesty International). This breaks my heart that women have to spend time in jail for sticking up for their rights. Women are just as powerful or more powerful than men. Totally agree with this quote " Loujain al-Hathloul should never been forced to spend a single second behind bars. She had been vindictively punished for bravely defending women's rights in Saudi Arabia and for exercising her right to freedom of expression" (Amnesty International). Loujain al-Hathloul even took it a step further by conducting a hunger strike, while in prison due to her not being able to speak to her family or even see them. Loujain al-Hathloul is overall such a powerful role model that everyone should look up too. All her hard work has paid off and she finally got to see the difference that she has created for the better.

Works Cited:

    Https://Www.google.com/Url?Sa=i&Url=Https%3A%2F%2Fen.Wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FLoujain_al-                                      Hathloul&Psig=AOvVaw3RmlfHE6DQrzQon6ka10Oh&Ust=1613416761969000&Source=Images&Cd=Vfe&Ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCKDr2PmL6u4CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ. 

“Loujain Al-Hathloul.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Feb. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loujain_al-Hathloul. 

“About Loujain AlHathloul - Saudi Women's Human Rights Activist.” Loujain AlHathloul, www.loujainalhathloul.org/about-loujain#:~:text=In%20Saudi%20Arabia%2C%20Loujain%20studied,Sorbonne%20University%20in%20Abu%2DDhabi. 

“Activism History of Loujain AlHathloul - Saudi Women's Human Rights Activist.” Loujain AlHathloul, www.loujainalhathloul.org/activism. 

Sutcliff, Nicola. “Kidnapped, Imprisoned, Tortured: How the Saudi Regime Wanted to Silence Women's Rights Activist Loujain Al-Hathloul.” Alaraby, The New Arab, 16 May 2019, english.alaraby.co.uk/english/indepth/2019/5/16/loujain-al-hathloul-the-woman-who-shook-the-saudi-regime. 

“Release of Loujain Al-Hathloul Long Overdue.” Amnesty International, www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/02/saudi-arabia-release-of-womens-rights-defender-loujain-al-hathloul-long-overdue/.