Yemeni community leaders awarding Tawakkul Karman, one of the leaders of the recent peaceful revoution against President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Behind them are Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly and to his right Ismael Ahmed of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. PHOTO: Nafeh AbuNab/TAAN

Addressing a jubilant crowd here on Sunday, November 13,  Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkul Karman said those who are silent about the uprisings in Yemen are actually participating in the regime’s crimes against innocent protesters. 

Karman, 32, made an appearance Sunday at Dearborn’s Ford Community and Performing Arts Center where she attracted more than 1,000 people who came out to hear her speak. She was greeted with the Arabic revolutionary chant that has gained momentum during the Arab Spring: “The people want to overthrow the regime.”

In her homeland of Yemen she is referred to as the “Iron Woman” and “Mother of the Revolution.” Karman is the co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and earned the honor last month for demanding human rights primarily among women in Yemen. According to reports Karman is the youngest and first Arab to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 

She earned international attention for leading opposition protests against Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime. Opposition protests in Yemen were triggered by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that essentially laid the foundation for the Arab Spring. In January she was arrested for her activism, and released shortly afterwards. 

Several young women indicated that Karman has become a central figure of courage and inspiration. “We are very proud of her. She’s a role model,” said Yemeni American Maha Elgabir-Kadi.  Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly awarded Karman with the key to the city. “She is the model of a powerful woman who can do anything,” O’Reilly said. 

The Ford Community and Performing Arts Center’s theatre was packed for Karman’s appearance, with dozens not able to make it inside.   PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab/TAAN

Karman insisted the demonstrations in Yemen are peaceful, and the goal is to create a civil society. She says the protests will continue until Saleh is ousted from power. According to Karman, Saleh’s regime has cut off electric resources to people in Yemen as punishment for their participation in anti-government protests. “Our revolution is peaceful. It will be one with flowers,” said Karman. She led chants as she spoke to the crowd. Several at the event agreed that Saleh’s days in power are numbered. 

The Yemen community in southeast Michigan 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. More than 500 Yemenis attended holding Saleh’s picture and wearing shirts featuring Saleh’s 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. One demonstrator claimed an overwhelming majority of people in Yemen support Saleh. 

A local Yemeni woman said those backing Saleh are afraid to speak up in fear of retaliation from his regime. Yemeni American Jamal Ahmed of Dearborn says Saleh’s supporters are from his tribe. Karman also spoke at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor following her appearance in Dearborn where she also urged the international community to call for the removal of Saleh.