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{{Short description|Saudi Arabian blogger and women's rights activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Eman al-Nafjan
|name = Eman al-Nafjan
|image =
|image = Eman_al-Nafjan_EFF.png
|caption =
|caption =
|birth_date =
|birth_date =
Line 8: Line 9:
|death_date =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|death_place =
|alma_mater = [[University of Birmingham]]
|alma_mater = [[King Saud University|University of Riyadh]],<ref name="cyberdissidents" />
[[University of Birmingham]]<ref name="cyberdissidents" />
|occupation = writer, educator
|occupation = writer, educator
|spouse =
|spouse =
|children = three
|children = 3<ref name="cyberdissidents" />
|residence = [[Riyadh]]
|religion =
|website = [http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/ saudiwoman.wordpress.com]
|website = [http://saudiwoman.wordpress.com/ saudiwoman.wordpress.com]
}}
}}


'''Eman al-Nafjan''' is a [[Saudi Arabian]] [[blog]]ger<ref name="CNN_Nafjan_blogger" /> and [[women's rights in Saudi Arabia|women's rights]] activist.<ref name="Guard_17June" /> She was detained by Saudi authorities in May 2018 along with [[Loujain Alhathloul|Loujain al-Hathloul]] and five other women's rights activists in what [[Human Rights Watch]] interpreted as an attempt to frighten her and the other detainees.<ref name="HRW_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest" />
'''Eman al-Nafjan''' is a [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabian]] [[blog]]ger<ref name="CNN_Nafjan_blogger" /> and [[feminism in Saudi Arabia|women's rights activist]].<ref name="Guard_17June" /> She was detained by Saudi authorities in May 2018 along with [[Loujain Alhathloul|Loujain al-Hathloul]] and five other women's rights activists in what [[Human Rights Watch]] interpreted as an attempt to frighten the activists, during the [[2018–2019 Saudi crackdown on feminists]].<ref name="HRW_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest" />

On 14 March 2019, [[PEN America]] announced that Nouf Abdulaziz, [[Loujain al-Hathloul|Loujain Al-Hathloul]], and Eman Al-Nafjan would receive the 2019 PEN America/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, which was presented on 21 May at the 2019 PEN America Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pen.org/advocacy-case/nouf-abdulaziz-loujain-al-hathloul-eman-al-nafjan/|title=Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul, Eman Al-Nafjan|date=2019-09-12|website=PEN America|language=en|access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>

In late March 2019, the women presented their defence and described physical and sexual abuse they had endured in captivity. Eman al-Nafjan, together with [[Aziza al-Yousef]] and Dr Rokaya Mohareb were released on bail.<ref name="Michaelson 2019">{{cite web | last=Michaelson | first=Ruth | title=Saudi Arabia bails three women on trial for human rights activism | website=the Guardian | date=2019-03-28 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/28/saudi-arabia-releases-three-human-rights-activists-on-bail | access-date=2019-03-28}}</ref>

In September 2019, al-Nafjan received "The Prize for Courage", awarded by [[Reporters Without Borders]]. She remained barred from travelling out of Saudi Arabia, and hence could not collect her award.<ref>[https://rsf.org/en/news/journalists-saudi-arabia-vietnam-and-malta-honoured-rsfs-2019-press-freedom-awards Journalists from Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Malta honoured at RSF’s 2019 Press Freedom Awards], 12 September 2019, RWB</ref><ref>[https://www.dw.com/en/reporters-without-borders-honors-journalists-who-fear-for-their-lives/a-50399903 Reporters Without Borders honors journalists who fear for their lives], [[Deutsche Welle]]</ref>


==Childhood and education==
==Childhood and education==
Al-nafjan was born in [[Saudi Arabia]], the daughter of a Saudi military officer. She earned a bachelor's degree in English and worked as a school teacher and later a university teaching assistant. She earned a master's degree in [[Teaching English as a foreign language]] from the [[University of Birmingham]] in the United Kingdom. She then taught [[pre-med]] English at a university. Currently she is working towards a PhD in [[linguistics]].<ref>[http://www.cyberdissidents.org/bin/dissidents.cgi?id=57&c=SA Eman Al Nafjan], Cyberdissidents.org</ref>
Al-Nafjan was born in [[Saudi Arabia]], the daughter of a senior Saudi military officer. She earned a bachelor's degree in English at what at the time was the [[King Saud University|University of Riyadh]] (KSU). She worked as a school teacher and later a university teaching assistant. She earned a master's degree in [[Teaching English as a foreign language]] from the [[University of Birmingham]] in the United Kingdom.<ref name="cyberdissidents" />

Al-Nafjan taught [[pre-medical]] English at KSU. She encouraged students to discuss their opinions freely and write about them, which her student at the time, Omaima al-Najjar, described as "unheard of in Saudi schools, where we were not allowed to have an opinion or even question the teacher on any matter that involved religion, culture or politics". Al-Nafjan openly stated her strong opinions in favour of women's rights at the time. Al-Nafjan’s Reporters Without Borders award was received by her student Omaima al-Najjar on her behalf as Al-Nafjan was at prison at the time.<ref name="AJE_alNafjan_profile" />

In 2013, al-Nafjan was conducting research aiming to obtain a PhD in [[linguistics]] at KSU.<ref name="cyberdissidents" />


==Blogging and activism==
==Blogging and activism==
In February 2008, al-Nafjan began [[blog]]ging as 'Saudiwoman', writing about Saudi social and cultural issues with a focus on women.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5321848/saudi-arabia-women-driving-ban-activists/|title=These Saudi Women Have Been Imprisoned For Their Activism|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=2018-11-26}}</ref> Her blog became one of the most popular Saudi blogs read internationally. Al-Nafjan blogged about topics that were taboo in Saudi Arabia at the time, including [[anti male-guardianship campaign|criticising male-guardianship]] as an "abuse system", opposing child marriage and interventions by the religious police, and documenting [[internet surveillance]] by Saudi authorities.<ref name="AJE_alNafjan_profile" />
In February 2008, al-Nafjan began [[blog]]ging as 'Saudiwoman', writing about Saudi social and cultural issues with a focus on women.


On 17 June 2011, she drove a car in Riyadh as part of a [[women to drive movement|women's driving campaign]] during the [[2011 Saudi Arabian protests]].<ref name="Guard_17June" /> She began publishing articles in Western media about the campaign to allow women to drive in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/eman-al-nafjan|title=Eman Al Nafjan|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref> In September 2016, al-Nafjan signed a petition as part of the [[anti male-guardianship campaign|campaign]] against the Saudi [[Women's_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia#Male_guardians|male guardianship]] system.<ref name="HRW_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest" />
On 17 June 2011, she drove a car in Riyadh as part of a [[women to drive movement|women's driving campaign]] during the [[2011 Saudi Arabian protests]].<ref name="Guard_17June" /> She began publishing articles in Western media about the campaign to allow women to drive in Saudi Arabia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/eman-al-nafjan|title=Eman Al Nafjan|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-05-20}}</ref> In October 2013, al-Nafjan was arrested while filming a woman driving.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fanack.com/saudi-arabia/faces/eman-al-nafjan/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104211208/https://fanack.com/saudi-arabia/faces/eman-al-nafjan/|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2018|title=Saudi Women's Rights Activist Eman al-Nafjan Arrested Ahead of Driving Ban Being Lifted - Fanack.com|work=Fanack.com|access-date=2018-11-04|language=en-US}} </ref> In September 2016, al-Nafjan signed a petition as part of the [[anti male-guardianship campaign|campaign]] against the Saudi [[Women's rights in Saudi Arabia#Male guardianship|male guardianship]] system.<ref name="HRW_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest" />
Al-Nafjan was highly active in supporting other activists in the women to drive campaign and in contributing to public debate on the issue.<ref name="AJE_alNafjan_profile" />


==Detention==
Around 15-18 May 2018, she was detained by Saudi authorities, along with [[Loujain Alhathloul|Loujain al-Hathloul]], [[Aziza al-Yousef]], [[Aisha al-Mana]], [[Madeha al-Ajroush]] and two men involved in women's rights campaigning.<ref>[http://www.thenational.scot/world/16238142.Rights_activists_arrested_ahead_of_Saudi_driving_ban_reversal/ Female activists detained ahead of Saudi driving ban reversal], 20th May, [[The National (Scotland)|The National]]</ref><ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/20/middleeast/saudi-women-arrests---intl/index.html Saudi Arabia arrests female activists weeks before lifting of driving ban], By Sarah El Sirgany and Hilary Clarke, May 21, 2018, [[CNN]]</ref><ref name="AJE_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest" /> [[Human Rights Watch]] interpreted the purpose of the arrests as frightening "anyone expressing skepticism about the crown prince's rights agenda".<ref name="HRW_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest" /> Saudi authorities accused the arrested activists of having "suspicious contact with foreign parties", providing financial support to "hostile elements abroad" and recruiting government workers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/396889-saudis-detain-womens-advocates-ahead-of-driving-ban-lift|title=Saudis detain women's advocates ahead of driving ban lift|work=ArabianBusiness.com|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en}}</ref>
Around 15–18 May 2018, al-Nafjan was [[2018–2019 Saudi crackdown on feminists|detained by Saudi authorities]], along with [[Loujain Alhathloul|Loujain al-Hathloul]], [[Aziza al-Yousef]], [[Aisha al-Mana]], [[Madeha al-Ajroush]] and two men involved in women's rights campaigning.<ref>[http://www.thenational.scot/world/16238142.Rights_activists_arrested_ahead_of_Saudi_driving_ban_reversal/ Female activists detained ahead of Saudi driving ban reversal], 20 May, [[The National (Scotland)|The National]]</ref><ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/20/middleeast/saudi-women-arrests---intl/index.html Saudi Arabia arrests female activists weeks before lifting of driving ban], By Sarah El Sirgany and Hilary Clarke, 21 May 2018, [[CNN]]</ref><ref name="AJE_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest" /> [[Human Rights Watch]] interpreted the purpose of the arrests as frightening "anyone expressing skepticism about the crown prince's rights agenda".<ref name="HRW_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest" /> Saudi authorities accused the arrested activists of having "suspicious contact with foreign parties", providing financial support to "hostile elements abroad" and recruiting government workers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/396889-saudis-detain-womens-advocates-ahead-of-driving-ban-lift|title=Saudis detain women's advocates ahead of driving ban lift|work=ArabianBusiness.com|access-date=2018-05-20|language=en}}</ref>

In November, 2018, she was apparently being held in the [[Dhahban Central Prison]].<ref name="amnesty_Saudiwomen_tortured" /> According to [[Amnesty International]], the detained women's rights activists including al-Nafjan were subjected to torture and abuse.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/11/saudi-arabia-accused-of-torturing-womens-rights-activists.html|title=Saudi Arabia Accused of Torturing Jailed Women's-Rights Activists|last=Lawler|first=Opheli Garcia|work=The Cut|access-date=2018-11-26|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/amnesty-says-saudi-activists-beaten-tortured-in-detention/|title=Amnesty says Saudi activists beaten, tortured in detention|date=2018-11-20|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=2018-11-26|language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2019, al-Nafjan was released on bail along with some of the other crackdown detainees.<ref name="Michaelson 2019" />


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|31em|refs=
{{reflist|refs=
⚫
<ref name="CNN_Nafjan_blogger">{{cite news|last1=Davies |first1=Catriona |last2= |first2= |pages= |language= |title=Ten must-read blogs from the Middle East |date=2011-04-14 |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/14/bloggers.middle.east/index.html |accessdate=20 April 2011 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/6cM3aKKty?url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/14/bloggers.middle.east/index.html |archivedate=17 October 2015 |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}</ref>


<ref name="cyberdissidents">{{cite web |url=https://www.cyberdissidents.org/bin/dissidents.cgi?id=57&c=SA |title=Eman Al Nafjan |website=Cyberdissidents.org |url-status=dead |access-date=26 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312101705/https://www.cyberdissidents.org/bin/dissidents.cgi?id=57&c=SA |archive-date=12 March 2013 }}</ref>
⚫
<ref name="Guard_17June">{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Burke |pages= |language= |title=Saudi Arabia women test driving ban |date=17 June 2011 |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/17/saudi-arabia-women-drivers-protest |accessdate=19 June 2011 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5zZ8tVem5?url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/17/saudi-arabia-women-drivers-protest |archivedate=19 June 2011 |deadurl=no |df=dmy }}

⚫
<ref name="CNN_Nafjan_blogger">{{cite news|last1=Davies |first1=Catriona |title=Ten must-read blogs from the Middle East |date=2011-04-14 |publisher=[[CNN]] |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/14/bloggers.middle.east/index.html |accessdate=20 April 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111830/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/14/bloggers.middle.east/index.html |archivedate=4 March 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}</ref>

⚫
<ref name="Guard_17June">{{cite news |first=Jason |last=Burke |title=Saudi Arabia women test driving ban |date=17 June 2011 |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/17/saudi-arabia-women-drivers-protest |accessdate=19 June 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620011315/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/17/saudi-arabia-women-drivers-protest |archivedate=20 June 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy }}
</ref>
</ref>


<ref name="AJE_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest">{{cite news | last1= | first1= | last2= | first2= | pages= | language = | title= Saudi Arabia 'arrests women's rights activists' | date= 2018-05-19 | publisher= [[Al Jazeera English]] | url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/saudi-arabia-arrests-women-rights-activists-180519075533018.html |accessdate=2018-05-19 |archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6zXRzuvcC |archivedate= 2018-05-19 |deadurl=no}}</ref>
<ref name="AJE_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest">{{cite news | title= Saudi Arabia 'arrests women's rights activists' | date= 2018-05-19 | publisher= [[Al Jazeera English]] | url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/saudi-arabia-arrests-women-rights-activists-180519075533018.html | accessdate= 2018-05-19 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20180520014318/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/05/saudi-arabia-arrests-women-rights-activists-180519075533018.html | archivedate= 20 May 2018 | url-status= live }}</ref>


<ref name="HRW_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest">{{cite web | last1 = | first1 = | last2= | first2= | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Saudi Arabia: Women's Rights Advocates Arrested — Jumping Ahead of Crown Prince's Reforms Risks Jail Time | work = | publisher = [[Human Rights Watch]] | date = 2018-05-18 | url = https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/18/saudi-arabia-womens-rights-advocates-arrested |format = | doi = | accessdate = 2018-05-19 |archiveurl= https://www.webcitation.org/6zXSVowe4 |archivedate= 2018-05-19 |deadurl=no}}</ref>
<ref name="HRW_Nafjan_Hathloul_arrest">{{cite web | title = Saudi Arabia: Women's Rights Advocates Arrested — Jumping Ahead of Crown Prince's Reforms Risks Jail Time | publisher = [[Human Rights Watch]] | date = 2018-05-18 | url = https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/18/saudi-arabia-womens-rights-advocates-arrested | accessdate = 2018-05-19 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20180521053409/https://www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/18/saudi-arabia-womens-rights-advocates-arrested | archivedate = 21 May 2018 | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="amnesty_Saudiwomen_tortured">{{cite web |title=Saudi Arabia: Reports of torture and sexual harassment of detained activists |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/11/saudi-arabia-reports-of-torture-and-sexual-harassment-of-detained-activists/ |website=www.amnesty.org |date=20 November 2018 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113154234/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/11/saudi-arabia-reports-of-torture-and-sexual-harassment-of-detained-activists/ |archivedate=2019-01-13 |url-status=live |accessdate=21 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

<ref name="AJE_alNafjan_profile">{{cite news | last1= al-Najjar | first1= Omaima | title= What it means to be a women's rights activist in Saudi Arabia | date= 2018-12-10 |newspaper= [[Al Jazeera English]] | url= https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/means-women-rights-activist-saudi-arabia-181209132021565.html |accessdate= 2019-08-06 |archiveurl= http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20190806010523/http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/means-women-rights-activist-saudi-arabia-181209132021565.html |archivedate= 2019-08-06 |url-status=live}}</ref>


}}
}}
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*{{Twitter}}
*{{Twitter}}
*[https://www.theguardian.com/profile/eman-al-nafjan Article archive] at ''[[The Guardian]]''
*[https://www.theguardian.com/profile/eman-al-nafjan Article archive] at ''[[The Guardian]]''
*[http://www.relativityonline.com/staff/eman-al-nafjan/ Article archive] at RelativityOnline.com
*[http://www.relativityonline.com/staff/eman-al-nafjan/ Article archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303204423/http://www.relativityonline.com/staff/eman-al-nafjan/ |date=3 March 2016 }} at RelativityOnline.com


{{Portalbar|Biography|Feminism|Saudi Arabia}}
{{Portalbar|Biography|Feminism|Saudi Arabia}}

{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Nafjan, Eman}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nafjan, Eman}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:Saudi Arabian women bloggers]]
[[Category:People from Riyadh]]
[[Category:People from Riyadh]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Birmingham]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Birmingham]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian bloggers]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian bloggers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:People of the 2011–12 Saudi Arabian protests]]
[[Category:People of the 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian dissidents]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian dissidents]]
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[[Category:Saudi Arabian activists]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian feminists]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian feminists]]
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[[Category:Women's rights in Saudi Arabia]]
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[[Category:Women's rights activists]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:Women human rights defenders]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian women's rights activists]]
[[Category:Saudi Arabian women activists]]
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[[Category:Women human rights activists]]
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[[Category:Women's rights in Saudi Arabia]]

Latest revision as of 05:05, 17 November 2024

Eman al-Nafjan
Born
Saudi Arabia
Alma materUniversity of Riyadh,[1] University of Birmingham[1]
Occupation(s)writer, educator
Children3[1]
Websitesaudiwoman.wordpress.com

Eman al-Nafjan is a Saudi Arabian blogger[2] and women's rights activist.[3] She was detained by Saudi authorities in May 2018 along with Loujain al-Hathloul and five other women's rights activists in what Human Rights Watch interpreted as an attempt to frighten the activists, during the 2018–2019 Saudi crackdown on feminists.[4]

On 14 March 2019, PEN America announced that Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul, and Eman Al-Nafjan would receive the 2019 PEN America/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, which was presented on 21 May at the 2019 PEN America Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. [5]

In late March 2019, the women presented their defence and described physical and sexual abuse they had endured in captivity. Eman al-Nafjan, together with Aziza al-Yousef and Dr Rokaya Mohareb were released on bail.[6]

In September 2019, al-Nafjan received "The Prize for Courage", awarded by Reporters Without Borders. She remained barred from travelling out of Saudi Arabia, and hence could not collect her award.[7][8]

Childhood and education

[edit]

Al-Nafjan was born in Saudi Arabia, the daughter of a senior Saudi military officer. She earned a bachelor's degree in English at what at the time was the University of Riyadh (KSU). She worked as a school teacher and later a university teaching assistant. She earned a master's degree in Teaching English as a foreign language from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.[1]

Al-Nafjan taught pre-medical English at KSU. She encouraged students to discuss their opinions freely and write about them, which her student at the time, Omaima al-Najjar, described as "unheard of in Saudi schools, where we were not allowed to have an opinion or even question the teacher on any matter that involved religion, culture or politics". Al-Nafjan openly stated her strong opinions in favour of women's rights at the time. Al-Nafjan’s Reporters Without Borders award was received by her student Omaima al-Najjar on her behalf as Al-Nafjan was at prison at the time.[9]

In 2013, al-Nafjan was conducting research aiming to obtain a PhD in linguistics at KSU.[1]

Blogging and activism

[edit]

In February 2008, al-Nafjan began blogging as 'Saudiwoman', writing about Saudi social and cultural issues with a focus on women.[10] Her blog became one of the most popular Saudi blogs read internationally. Al-Nafjan blogged about topics that were taboo in Saudi Arabia at the time, including criticising male-guardianship as an "abuse system", opposing child marriage and interventions by the religious police, and documenting internet surveillance by Saudi authorities.[9]

On 17 June 2011, she drove a car in Riyadh as part of a women's driving campaign during the 2011 Saudi Arabian protests.[3] She began publishing articles in Western media about the campaign to allow women to drive in Saudi Arabia.[11] In October 2013, al-Nafjan was arrested while filming a woman driving.[12] In September 2016, al-Nafjan signed a petition as part of the campaign against the Saudi male guardianship system.[4] Al-Nafjan was highly active in supporting other activists in the women to drive campaign and in contributing to public debate on the issue.[9]

Detention

[edit]

Around 15–18 May 2018, al-Nafjan was detained by Saudi authorities, along with Loujain al-Hathloul, Aziza al-Yousef, Aisha al-Mana, Madeha al-Ajroush and two men involved in women's rights campaigning.[13][14][15] 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.[16]

In November, 2018, she was apparently being held in the Dhahban Central Prison.[17] According to Amnesty International, the detained women's rights activists including al-Nafjan were subjected to torture and abuse.[18][19]

In March 2019, al-Nafjan was released on bail along with some of the other crackdown detainees.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Eman Al Nafjan". Cyberdissidents.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  2. ^ Davies, Catriona (14 April 2011). "Ten must-read blogs from the Middle East". CNN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  3. ^ a b Burke, Jason (17 June 2011). "Saudi Arabia women test driving ban". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  4. ^ a b c "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 21 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul, Eman Al-Nafjan". PEN America. 12 September 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  6. ^ a b Michaelson, Ruth (28 March 2019). "Saudi Arabia bails three women on trial for human rights activism". the Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  7. ^ Journalists from Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Malta honoured at RSF’s 2019 Press Freedom Awards, 12 September 2019, RWB
  8. ^ Reporters Without Borders honors journalists who fear for their lives, Deutsche Welle
  9. ^ a b c al-Najjar, Omaima (10 December 2018). "What it means to be a women's rights activist in Saudi Arabia". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  10. ^ "These Saudi Women Have Been Imprisoned For Their Activism". Time. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Eman Al Nafjan". the Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Saudi Women's Rights Activist Eman al-Nafjan Arrested Ahead of Driving Ban Being Lifted - Fanack.com". Fanack.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  13. ^ Female activists detained ahead of Saudi driving ban reversal, 20 May, The National
  14. ^ Saudi Arabia arrests female activists weeks before lifting of driving ban, By Sarah El Sirgany and Hilary Clarke, 21 May 2018, CNN
  15. ^ "Saudi Arabia 'arrests women's rights activists'". Al Jazeera English. 19 May 2018. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  16. ^ "Saudis detain women's advocates ahead of driving ban lift". ArabianBusiness.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Saudi Arabia: Reports of torture and sexual harassment of detained activists". www.amnesty.org. Amnesty International. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  18. ^ Lawler, Opheli Garcia. "Saudi Arabia Accused of Torturing Jailed Women's-Rights Activists". The Cut. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  19. ^ "Amnesty says Saudi activists beaten, tortured in detention". The Seattle Times. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
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