Manal al-Sharif
Manal al-Sharif
Manal al-Sharifis a women's rights activist from Saudi Arabia who helped start a women's right to drive campaign in 2011. A women's rights activist who had previously filmed herself driving, Wajeha al-Huwaider, filmed al-Sharif driving a car as part of the campaign. The video was posted on YouTube and Facebook. Al-Sharif was detained and released on 21 May and rearrested the following day. On 30 May, al-Sharif was released on bail, on the conditions of returning for questioning if requested,...
NationalitySaudi Arabian
ProfessionActivist
Date of Birth25 April 1979
Women want to drive and they are taking actual steps towards that.
It took me a long, long time to break the chains that's inside me.
Women tell me they are different since 21 May - the day I was arrested - it's a positive change, they believe now.
When women break that taboo and they're not afraid to drive that car by herself - that's it. Now she has the guts to speak up for herself and take action.
All I did was ask for rights. I didn't attack anyone. I didn't harass anyone. I didn't oppose the system or the country or the authority. All I said is, 'Why can't I drive?'
Who do you think is more difficult to face: oppressive governments, or oppressive societies?
We won't stop until the first Saudi license is issued to a woman,
The rain begins with a single drop.
A child cannot be free if his/her mother is not free. A husband cannot be free if his wife is not free. The society is nothing if women are nothing.