DEARBORN- Tawakkul Karman, the first Arab and second Muslim to win the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize spoke in Dearborn on Sunday, Nov. 13 about the uprisings in the Middle East. Karman is the co-recipient of the prize and earned it for her efforts in fighting for human rights primarily during the Arab Spring.
She first gained international attention for leading protests in the Yemen uprisings. Yemeni American women in the metro-Detroit region say she’s become a role model to them and Arabs in the Middle East. In Yemen she is referred to as the “Iron Woman” and “Mother of the Revolution.”
In Dearborn she continued to demand the removal of Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and strongly criticized his regime. Karman said Saleh no longer has as much power as he once had. More than 1,000 Yemeni and Arab Americans came to see her speak, and greeted her with loud cheers and chants in Arabic including, “The people want to overthrow the regime!.” Addressing the crowd Karman said those who continue to be silent are participating in the regime’s crimes against innocent protestors.
Dearborn is one community that has been anything but silent in regards to supporting the anti-Saleh protests in Yemen and raising awareness. Several large rallies have been held in the city as well as Hamtramck to draw attention to the cause of ousting Saleh, who they have described as a dictator who has stolen the country’s wealth and ordered deadly attacks on peaceful protesters.
The area has seen a string of rallies from Saleh supporters as well, including a large one months ago in Hamtramck in support of him. More than 500 Yemenis attended holding Saleh’s picture and wearing shirts featuring his pictures of his face. They insisted he’s a great leader, and say it’s not the regime attacking peaceful demonstrators, but instead political groups after Saleh’s power.
Karman indicated the demonstrations in Yemen are peaceful, and its goals are to create a civil society. These demonstrations will continue until Saleh is ousted from power according to Karman.
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