Tawakkol Karman Quotes

76 Sourced Quotes

Soon after the military coup that deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy, I announced that I would join the pro-Morsy demonstration outside of Cairo's Rabaa al-Adaweya square... I wished to protest the killing, forcible disappearance, and jailing of coup opponents... I declared publicly that I was going to Rabaa al-Adaweya to defend the gains of the Jan. 25, 2011, revolution — freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right of the people to select their rulers

Tawakkol Karman
In my capacity as a leader of the popular and youth revolution in Yemen, I reaffirm our adherence to the peaceful nature of our struggle until the end. At the same time, I ardently call upon the free people of the world to examine what is happening in my country and Syria especially, and to honour their responsibilities to confront rulers who do not hesitate to carry out the most heinous crimes against people who have the temerity to demand their natural rights to freedom and dignity.

Tawakkol Karman
Perhaps one of the few positive aspects of the coup is that it has discredited the claim that that that the state had been taken over by the Brotherhood under Morsi.

Tawakkol Karman
There have been violations in the protest squares, especially in Sana'a. This is natural when hundreds of thousands of people [protest] for extended periods of time. However, these violations are marginal, and do not tarnish the beauty of the revolution. We see rival tribes meeting and debating in their tents, and men and women struggling [together] in the square to oust the regime.

Tawakkol Karman
... my people are facing difficulties. They are being killed in the streets. They are on the sidewalks for almost nine months now. As you know, they own more than 70 million machine guns. That's their personal weapons... Personally, I'm not protected, because my people are not protected. And therefore, the international community have to provide protection, and the United States of America, as well. They have to take a clear stance with the Yemeni people.

Tawakkol Karman
I do not want to belittle or be indifferent to the insults to our prophet (pbuh). I denounce insulting our prophet and announce that my heart is filled with his love. Yet, I refuse that his position should be employed for ignoble political gains. However, I protest being used as a tool

Tawakkol Karman
... I have spent days and nights camped out in tents with fellow protesters; I have led demonstrations in the streets facing the threat of mortars, missiles and gunfire; I have struggled to build a movement for democratic change — all while caring for my three young children.

Tawakkol Karman
The extremist people hate me. They speak about me in the mosques and pass round leaflets condemning me as un-Islamic.

Tawakkol Karman
With two civil wars, an al-Qaida presence and 40% unemployment, what else is President Saleh waiting for? He should leave office now... This revolution is inevitable, the people have endured dictatorship, corruption, poverty and unemployment for years and now the whole thing is exploding

Tawakkol Karman
Requiring governments to make all publicly held information and data available to people—thus giving citizens a powerful tool to expose corruption—is just one aspect of the accountability revolution that can be unleashed if the report's recommendations are implemented in full.

Tawakkol Karman
The most important pretext for the ousting of President Morsi was the existence of division in Egypt.... My support for the 30 June movement in opposition to Morsi changed after the military coup, which went against all the gains and values of the 25 January revolution... Clearly, the leaders of the military takeover have something to conceal from the watchful eyes of the world.... I now feel I have a responsibility to warn the world of the fact that a fully fledged despotic regime is seeking to reinforce its foundations in the country.

Tawakkol Karman
We were against oppression, and then we elevated our struggle to demand our rights. We will go against all the dictators, and not only Saleh in Yemen, so we can spread peace.

Tawakkol Karman
The agenda of burning embassies and treading on flags has its objective, of which seeking an apology for defaming our prophet is not among them at all.

Tawakkol Karman
American intervention in Yemen is a product of the war on terror... Because American security was given priority over all other concerns, counterterrorism agencies paid no attention to the human rights abuses being committed by their local partners... Because America has invested so heavily in Yemen's security forces, it now seems that a transition to democracy will depend on whether Washington believes that investment will remain secure... Sadly, it seems likely that the United States will support figures from the old regime rather than allow a transitional government approved by the people to take control

Tawakkol Karman
I myself am part of the youth movement. However, after a long discussion, it appears that many of the youth demands and needs, like access to education, jobs, and equitable growth, have been addressed under different goals and targets and youth enjoy the benefits of everything else in the report.

Tawakkol Karman
The international community have to create pressure on Saleh. One, they have to establish an international commission so they can investigate the killing that is happening... Without that justice, and if they leave Saleh alone, there will be no security and peace, not only in Yemen and our region, but also around the world.

Tawakkol Karman
Women have become at the forefront of these demonstrations and lines in protests — in the medical camps, in the security services, in the strategic planning for the revolution and the strategic planning for the civil democratic society after the revolution.

Tawakkol Karman
We understand America's concerns about terrorism... We have no objection to agreements that protect your security interests. We only ask that you respect international standards on human rights and the Yemeni people's rights to freedom and justice.

Tawakkol Karman
The young people of this revolution have made their demands clear: authority must be handed over to a transitional presidential council approved by the people... Yemen's people have charted the course of revolution and we will follow this course to its end. We have left our authoritarian past behind. Now, we ask our friends in Washington and Riyadh to help us build a democratic future.

Tawakkol Karman
American policy makers must understand that the activists and young people who started Yemen's peaceful revolution deeply respect the United States and Western civilization... We call on American officials to engage with the leaders of Yemen's democracy movement and abandon their misplaced investment in the old regime's security apparatus

Tawakkol Karman
We in Yemen are no less thirsty for freedom and dignity than our brothers and sisters in Tunis... It was feared that the revolution would descend into violence and distort the image of the other Arab uprisings. But the Yemeni revolution surprised everyone with its astonishingly peaceful nature... What is truly regrettable, though, is that the world has not shown the least interest in what the Saleh regime does with Yemen and its revolutionaries... We in Yemen look forward to a clear stand from the UN, world governments and civil society organisations in condemning the violence of Saleh's regime.

Tawakkol Karman
... We are in one world. We are one nation. And therefore, what's common in between us, what should be common among us, is love and peace.

Tawakkol Karman
For the first time people in the south stopped calling for separation, raised the national flag and demanded an end to the regime. It's been truly historic. The country is united in its aim to rid itself of the regime through public vigils and rallies, civil disobedience and slogans instead of tear gas and bullets.

Tawakkol Karman
I am not blind to the shortcomings of the previous government: Before the coup, I supported the June 30 rallies against Morsy.... The military takeover aims to uproot the Muslim Brotherhood and its partners, replacing them through brute force with the losers of a democratic ballot

Tawakkol Karman
The people have tasted it and have made great sacrifices and will not give out... We have blazed a path for ourselves … and we will win.

Tawakkol Karman
In many places around the world, the LGBT community and individuals infected with HIV/AIDS continue to face discrimination in employment, political representation, and access to health care, including sexual and reproductive health care and rights. They certainly must not be left behind. I will continue to push for the inclusion of these marginalized groups in the post-2015 agenda and beyond.

Tawakkol Karman
What unites us in the Youth Revolution Council is the desire to oust the regime... We do not ask the members of the Council or of the Preparatory Committee about their source of authority, nor about their political, geographic, or sectarian affiliation... In this revolution, I have forgotten my partisan and geographic affiliations... I belong only to the people of the revolution. The revolution is a glorious [cause] that stands above any consideration.

Tawakkol Karman
The interim presidential council will take the reins from the ousted president and his regime... We take this possibility into account, which is why we have demanded that the interim presidential council represent all the national elements, in order to meet the demands of the youth and the people. We demand that the political elements suggest names to present to the youth, since we object to anyone seizing power after Saleh, whoever they may be. These fears exist in any revolution... Whenever officials stray from the straight path, the youth must be prepared to take to the streets in every province and shout: The people want to oust the official in charge, to hold the minister accountable, to prosecute the general.

Tawakkol Karman
Despite being subjected to killing, arrest, and oppression, Morsy's supporters have held fast to the democratic process and prevented Egypt from descending into civil war.

Tawakkol Karman
... it is inappropriate for a public activist [to wear a niqab], since people want to see you. The Islamic faith does not mandate wearing a niqab; it is [just] a social tradition.

Tawakkol Karman