Nobel Laureate Tawakkol Karman delivers pro-democracy lecture at UND

Sep. 9—GRAND FORKS — UND received a visit from Nobel Laureate Tawakkol Karman, who urged attendees to protect the values of democracy and advocate for the "shared values of humanity," during an address titled "Tyranny and the Future of Democracy."

The address — part of UND's "Eye of the Hawk" lecture series — was held on Thursday at the Memorial Union.

Karman was one of three recipients of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize — recognized for her advocacy of democracy and human rights in her native Yemen. She has also been called "the lady of the Arab Spring," referring to a series of democratic uprisings in 2011 that deposed authoritarian leaders in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen.

Karman is the first Arab woman and second Muslim woman to win the award, and at the time of awarding, was the youngest-ever recipient at 32.

Karman said that change begins at a grassroots level, and urged the audience to take an active role in preserving their freedoms.

"I encourage all of you to dream as big as you can, and act as a leader," she said. "As the one who is responsible for saving his family, community, country and the world. If anyone considers themselves responsible and capable of doing that, we will be able to create change. Don't listen to anyone who wants to defame the struggle of people."

Karman began her journalism career by reporting on corruption and terrorism long before the events of the Arab Spring. Her work led her to establish a foundation in 2005 called "Women Journalists Without Chains," which advocates for human rights and freedom of expression.

Karman said her reporting and subsequent participation in protests against the regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh were a precursor of events to come.

"That was kind of the first revolution — because there were strong articles calling for a peaceful revolution against the dictator. We organized a lot of sit-ins and demonstrations against human rights violations, corruption and war. It was really the beginning of the idea of peaceful revolution."

As a journalist, Karman encouraged those in the field to always seek the truth, and fight against forces attempting to suppress it.

"Journalism is the field of truth," she said. "If you want to succeed, you have to be brave, tell the truth and always be the voice of the people. The voice of justice, equality and fighting corruption."

Although Karman said the technological advances of globalization has increased cross-cultural connection, and reduced the size of the world to "one home," much work remains to be done to combat the forces of tyranny.

"Despite this remarkable development, humanity has unfortunately done nothing to address the existential challenges threatening its shared future," she said. "The majority of people on earth are deprived of their fundamental rights."

Karman urged democratic nations such as the United States to play an active role in promoting democracy and human rights.

"I love America, and I love how this country built the values of equality, freedom and democracy," she said. "I want this country to really play its role — to protect its values, and also at the same to protect freedom and human rights around the world. This is its duty. Otherwise, authoritarian regimes like Russia and China will take its place."

Despite her concerns about the rise of tyranny across the world, Karman said her experience of leading pro-democracy protests in Yemen make her optimistic for the future.

"I am full of dreams and optimism," she said. "I believe in people, from the first steps of my journey defending human rights. I started my journey alone in a very conservative country that doesn't allow women to play a role in public life as a result of the policies of dictators. The government used all of its tools to try and stop me, starting with defaming me, bullying me and arresting me. All of that didn't stop me. I told them 'I believe in people. I believe that they will one day follow the dreams of freedom and democracy.' And that's exactly what happened."