Aziza al-Yousef | |
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Born | 1957 or 1958 (age 65–66)
[1] |
Occupation | computer science professor (retired) [2] |
Known for | Women's rights ( driving, male guardianship) activist [1] |
Children | 5 [1] |
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]
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]
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]
In 2019, it was reported that the Saudi authorities had detained her son, Salah al-Haidar. [14] [15]
Aziza al-Yousef | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | 1957 or 1958 (age 65–66)
[1] |
Occupation | computer science professor (retired) [2] |
Known for | Women's rights ( driving, male guardianship) activist [1] |
Children | 5 [1] |
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]
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]
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]
In 2019, it was reported that the Saudi authorities had detained her son, Salah al-Haidar. [14] [15]