women

Kuwait City (Middle East Monitor) – Kuwait has become one of the first countries in the Middle East to give full political rights to women. Gulf news agencies reported that the oil rich state has granted full suffrage after decades of campaigning by women’s rights campaigners. Praising Kuwait’s progressive move, regional media commented on the […]

Iran

Iranians Dance To Protest Detention Of Teen Over Instagram Videos

contributors

Washington, DC ( RFE/RL) – Iranian social-media users are expressing support for a teenager who was detained over her Instagram dance videos by posting their own clips showing them dancing in solidarity. Maedeh Hojabri, who had more than 40,000 followers on Instagram, recently appeared in a program on state-controlled Iranian television in which she acknowledged […]

Saudi Arabia

At Midnight, Riyadh Erupts in Cheers for Women Drivers–but Women Activists still in Jail

Natacha Yazbeck

Riyadh (AFP) – Every few metres someone — a newlywed couple, a group of young girls with balloons — stops Samar Almogren to cheer her on or flash her a thumbs-up. It’s midnight in Riyadh, and she’s making her way across the city she was born and raised in, finally in the driver’s seat of […]

Saudi Arabia

The Real Reason Saudi Arabi Lifted its Ban on Women Driving: Economic Necessity

Martin Hvidt

Odense (The Conversation) – After years of campaigning by women activists, on June 24 the ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia will be lifted. It is the most visible of a bundle of recent initiatives taken by the Saudi king and the crown prince, Mohammad bin Salman, to strengthen the role of women in […]

Feminism

After arrest of Feminists, Saudi Arabia sets Harsh Penalties for Sexual Harassment

AFP

Riyadh (AFP) – Saudi Arabia is preparing to outlaw sexual harassment, officials said Tuesday, less than a month before the conservative kingdom lifts its decades-long ban on women driving. The kingdom’s Shura Council, which advises the cabinet, approved a draft law on Monday which would introduce a prison term of up to five years and […]

Saudi Arabia

Saudis to let women drive but Jail a dozen Women’s Rights Activists

AFP

Dubai (AFP) – Saudi authorities have widened a crackdown on women’s rights advocates, detaining at least three more activists a month before the kingdom lifts its decades-old ban on women drivers, campaigners said Tuesday. Saudi authorities on Saturday announced the arrest of seven people, mostly identified by rights groups as women who have long campaigned […]

Human Rights Watch

Saudis Arrest 7 Women’s Rights Activists who had Upstaged Crown Prince on Driving

Human Rights Watch

Beirut ( Human Rights Watch) – Saudi authorities since May 15, 2018, detained a total of seven prominent women’s rights defenders, Human Rights Watch said today. The activists have long advocated ending the ban on women driving and abolishing the discriminatory male guardianship system. Among those arrested are Eman al-Nafjan and Lujain al-Hathloul, along with […]

Sudan

World Defends Sudanese Rape Victim Condemned to Death

TeleSur

The woman’s in-laws rejected financial compensation for their son’s murder in favor of executing their daughter-in-law – who was raped by her husband. An online campaign is gaining momentum to defend a 19-year-old Sudanese woman sentenced to death for murdering her husband, who she says raped her after she was forced to marry him. The […]

Feminism

Israel wins Eurovision with #MeToo inspired song

Daniel Silva

Lisbon (AFP) – Israel won the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon early Sunday after singer Netta Barzilai beat 25 other contestants with her uptempo song “Toy” whose lyrics were inspired by the #MeToo movement. The winning track, which contained refrains such as “I am not your toy, you stupid boy”, summed up the concerns of […]