Chairwoman Activities

In a notable assembly of Saudi and Arab civil society, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman delivered a address at the "Quest for Democracy in Saudi Arabia" conference held in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.

Addressing the esteemed participants of the conference, Karman extended her greetings and saluted supporters and allies both within and beyond Saudi Arabia's borders.

Karman began by expressing deep admiration for the courage shown by the Saudi opposition, applauding their resilience in the face of increased repression, threats, arrests, and torture within the Kingdom. She highlighted the stark contrast between the Saudi government's claims of openness and modernization and the reality of intensified repression and suppression of dissent.

Acknowledging the attendees' familiarity with the situation in their country, Karman emphasized the escalating crackdown on opposition voices and independent figures within Saudi Arabia.

Karman underscored the collective nature of their struggle, pointing out that Saudi Arabia's actions in the wake of the Arab Spring aimed to undermine beliefs in change, freedom, equality, and democracy across the Arab world.

The Nobel laureate called for greater unity and alignment among Saudi opposition forces, stressing that unifying visions and efforts is crucial to presenting a credible alternative that resonates with the Saudi people.

Karman condemned the exploitation of civil wars by tyrannical regimes to suppress democratic aspirations, emphasizing the need for solidarity and resistance against such tactics.

In her address, Karman highlighted the impact of regional conflicts on Arab societies, noting the threats posed by counter-revolutions and the disintegration of the Arab world due to counterproductive policies.

In conclusion, Karman commended the Saudi opposition's struggle for democracy, human rights, justice, and citizenship, extending her heartfelt praise and best wishes for success in their endeavors.

Here is the full text of speech:

Esteemed brothers and sisters of the Saudi opposition,

I extend my greetings to all participants of the "Quest for Democracy in Saudi Arabia." I also salute your supporters and allies, both within and beyond the borders of the country.

I would like to start by expressing my deep admiration for your unwavering courage in standing by your principles and persisting in your fight despite the increased repression, threats, arrests, and torture in recent years within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is evident that the Saudi government's claims of openness and modernization have amounted to little more than a public relations facade, akin to their contracts with advertising companies to improve their image in the West.

You are more familiar with your country's situation than I am. You know that there was a time when certain criticisms could be published in local newspapers, but in recent years, repression, arrests, and torture have intensified. You also know that all avenues for opposition, dissenting voices, and independent public figures have been effectively shut down.

Our struggle is collective, and our aspirations are united. Everything Saudi Arabia has done in Arab countries since the 2011 revolutions can be summarized as an effort to undermine belief in change, freedom, equality, justice, democracy, and human rights among Arabs. Their strategy is aimed at thwarting potential challenges to their authority before they materialize.

When discussing a state, we affirm the people's right to determine their destiny and the participation of all individuals and societal groups in political processes. Citizenship, equality, human rights, and public freedoms form the fundamental pillars of a modern state. Modernity cannot exist without free citizens empowered to make their own decisions. Addressing 'opposition' acknowledges the legitimacy of dissent and diverse viewpoints.

In Saudi Arabia, the presence of a reformist movement could have elicited positive reactions from opposition components both domestically and internationally. However, the madness of despots prevails there, as they benefit from the surplus of wealth and oil sales, at the expense of Saudis and other Arabs. These financial surpluses have played a destructive role in destabilizing their countries and fueling counter-revolutionary wars, leading to their localization within their own nations.

I hope for greater unity and alignment of positions and visions among all components of the Saudi opposition. Unifying our visions, discourse, and collaborative efforts is the only path to presenting an alternative that garners the trust and support of the Saudi people. In Saudi Arabia and beyond, tyrannical regimes exploit events in civil wars as a pretext to terrorize societies and suppress their aspirations for democratic change. They use the specter of chaos, which they actively helped spread during the Arab Spring in other countries, to intimidate their own people.

I believe that the unity of Saudi opposition forces will serve as a practical rebuttal to the regime's assertion that its downfall would result in chaos. The Saudi opposition and its pursuit of democratic change, freedom, and political reform have a profound influence throughout the Arab region. Aspiring populations in these countries seek to establish nations founded on the principles of rule of law and democracy.

In the Arab Spring countries, our societies faced counter-revolutions that included regional and global conflicts. These conflicts aimed to undermine the success of peaceful revolutions for change, posing a threat to entrenched Arab regimes and their oppressive branches. Additionally, they threatened illegitimate international interests aligned with rulers who neither represent their people nor serve their interests.

The unfolding genocide war in Gaza has exposed the breakdown of Arab security and the absence of basic human solidarity from Arab countries towards our Palestinian brothers facing this brutal conflict. The repercussions of this crisis will impact all Arabs, not just Palestinians. This gap in Arab solidarity represents a clear failure of a political system that relies on internal conflict and wars against its own people. It is a consequence of counterproductive policies that have led to the disintegration of the Arab world, leaving the region vulnerable to exploitation by Israel, Iran, and other major powers that view it as a strategic vacuum awaiting external intervention.

Glory to your great struggle for democracy, human rights, justice, and citizenship. I extend my heartfelt praise and best wishes for success in this event and all your endeavors to voice the aspirations of your people for change, freedom, dignity, and justice.