Aziza al-Yousef

Aziza al-Yousef is a Saudi Arabian women's rights activist and academic.[3] She was detained by Saudi authorities in May 2018 along with Loujain al-Hathloul and five others.[4]

Aziza al-Yousef
Born1957 or 1958 (age 61–62)[1]
Saudi Arabia
Occupationcomputer science professor (retired)[2]
Known forWomen's rights (driving, male guardianship) activist[1]
Children5[1]

As of November, 2018, she was apparently being held in the Dhahban Central Prison.[5] In late March 2019, the women presented their defence and described physical and sexual abuse they had endured in captivity. Aziza al-Yousef, together with Eman al-Nafjan and Dr Rokaya Mohareb were released on bail.[6]

Life

Al-Yousef studied briefly at King Saud University as a teenager before moving to the United States to study at Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed her master's degree back at King Saud University.[7]

Al-Yousef taught computer science at King Saud university for 28 years before retiring.[8]

In 2013, al-Yousef was arrested along with fellow activist Eman al-Nafjan for driving through Riyadh by themselves. They were forced to sign a pledge that they would not drive again.[9] In 2013, al-Youssef launched a global awareness campaign following the rape of 5-year girl by her father, a Saudi cleric.[8]

In 2016, she helped to lead a campaign against the male guardianship system in Saudi Arabia.[2] She "attempted to deliver to the Royal Advisory Council a 14,700-signature petition seeking to abolish the guardianship regulations but she was rebuffed and told to mail it."[7]

Around 15–18 May 2018, al-Yousef was detained by Saudi authorities, along with Loujain al-Hathloul, Iman al-Nafjan, Aisha Almane, Madeha al-Ajroush and two men involved in women's rights campaigning.[10][11][12] Human Rights Watch interpreted the purpose of the arrests as frightening "anyone expressing skepticism about the crown prince's rights agenda".[4] Saudi authorities accused the arrested activists of having "suspicious contact with foreign parties", providing financial support to "hostile elements abroad" and recruiting government workers.[13]

References
  1. Fahim, Kareem (23 June 2018). "Meet the Saudi women who advocated for the right to drive — and are paying dearly for it". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  2. Sidahmed, Mazin (26 September 2016). "Thousands of Saudis sign petition to end male guardianship of women". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  3. Burke, Jason (17 June 2011). "Saudi Arabia women test driving ban". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  4. "Saudi Arabia: Women's Rights Advocates Arrested — Jumping Ahead of Crown Prince's Reforms Risks Jail Time". Human Rights Watch. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  5. "Saudi Arabia: Reports of torture and sexual harassment of detained activists". www.amnesty.org. Amnesty International. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. Michaelson, Ruth (28 March 2019). "Saudi Arabia bails three women on trial for human rights activism". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  7. "A conversation with Saudi women's rights advocate Aziza al-Yousef | Rob L. Wagner | AW". AW. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  8. Fahim, Kareem (23 June 2018). "Meet the Saudi women who advocated for the right to drive — and are paying dearly for it". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  9. Usher, Sebastian (29 November 2013). "Saudi female driver defies ban". BBC News. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  10. Female activists detained ahead of Saudi driving ban reversal, 20th May, The National
  11. "Saudi Arabia 'arrests women's rights activists'". Al Jazeera English. 19 May 2018. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  12. Saudi Arabia arrests female activists weeks before lifting of driving ban, By Sarah El Sirgany and Hilary Clarke, May 21, 2018, CNN
  13. "Saudis detain women's advocates ahead of driving ban lift". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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