Tawakkol Karman: Quotes about peace

“We were against oppression, and then we elevated our struggle to demand our rights. We will go against all the dictators, and not only Saleh in Yemen, so we can spread peace.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Democracy Now! interview (2011)

Peace

“The repercussions of the coup on nascent democracies in the Arab world will be destructive. People may soon lose faith in the democratic process, paving the way for the revival of extremist groups…The coup serves to strengthen the radicals, interrupting the course of peaceful change.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Egypt's coup has crushed all the freedoms won in the revolution (2013)

People , World , Peace , Faith

“…We are in one world. We are one nation. And therefore, what’s common in between us, what should be common among us, is love and peace.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Democracy Now! interview (2011)

Love , World , Peace

“Democracy can't thrive under military rule — history is quite clear on this point … The police state is back, and it is even worse than Hosni Mubarak's. What is happening in Egypt today is very scary: The coup could lead society to lose its faith in democracy, which will give terrorist groups a chance to breathe again…By blocking peaceful change and weakening the Islamist groups that participate in the political process, the coup leaders support this stance and do the terrorists a favor.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Morsy is the Arab World's Mandela (2013)

Peace , Faith , Democracy , History

“In my capacity as a leader of the popular and youth revolution in Yemen, I reaffirm our adherence to the peaceful nature of our struggle until the end. At the same time, I ardently call upon the free people of the world to examine what is happening in my country and Syria especially, and to honour their responsibilities to confront rulers who do not hesitate to carry out the most heinous crimes against people who have the temerity to demand their natural rights to freedom and dignity.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, The world must not forsake Yemen's struggle for freedom (2011)

People , Youth , World , Peace

“We in Yemen are no less thirsty for freedom and dignity than our brothers and sisters in Tunis…It was feared that the revolution would descend into violence and distort the image of the other Arab uprisings. But the Yemeni revolution surprised everyone with its astonishingly peaceful nature…What is truly regrettable, though, is that the world has not shown the least interest in what the Saleh regime does with Yemen and its revolutionaries…We in Yemen look forward to a clear stand from the UN, world governments and civil society organisations in condemning the violence of Saleh's regime.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, The world must not forsake Yemen's struggle for freedom (2011)

World , Fear , Peace , Nature

“My aim for now is to lead a peaceful revolution to remove this regime. I think if I can be in the street with the people I can achieve more than if I am the president.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Tawakul Karman, Yemeni activist, and thorn in the side of Saleh (2011)

People , Peace , Thinking

“If the US and Europe genuinely support the people, as they say, they must not betray our peaceful revolution. It is the expression of the democratic will of the overwhelming majority of the people of Yemen.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Our revolution's doing what Saleh can't – uniting Yemen (2011)

People , Peace , Support

“The international community have to create pressure on Saleh. One, they have to establish an international commission so they can investigate the killing that is happening…Without that justice, and if they leave Saleh alone, there will be no security and peace, not only in Yemen and our region, but also around the world.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Democracy Now! interview (2011)

World , Peace , Justice , Communication

“The youth are our future, and to change anything in our world going forward we must start with this generation of youth, as they’re the new agents of change…In peacebuilding and promoting human rights, the youth are no longer a silent majority, but now they should be an active stakeholder…Youth are bringing to the table great contributions to the peace and state building and are shaping the future to be more peaceful, equal, and prosperous for all.”

Tawakkol Karman

2000s, Youth Q&A on the U.N. High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda Report (2009)

Youth , World , Peace , Change

“I call on the United States and the European Union to tell Saleh that he must leave now…They should end all support for his regime, especially that which is used to crush peaceful opposition…They should freeze the Saleh family's assets and those of Saleh's henchmen and return them to the people.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Our revolution's doing what Saleh can't – uniting Yemen (2011)

People , Family , Peace , Support

“[In response to a question about drone strikes:] I’m sure that the new Yemen, the civilized Yemen and the democratic Yemen, it will be a Yemen without terrorism, without extremism. And we know that we’re going to be the deepest path for democracy and for peace and international security.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Democracy Now! interview (2011)

Peace , Democracy , Question

“I think it’s —you know, it’s victory of the value of human rights, of the value of anti-corruption, of the value of anti-dictatorship. So I don’t think that I am the only one who win this Nobel”

Tawakkol Karman

Peace Prize
2010s, Democracy Now! interview (2011)

Peace , Thinking , Victory

“Speaking of the report, I want to say that there are three key innovations of this report compared to the Millennium Development Goals. First, the call for civil and political rights combined with transparent and accountable public institutions as intrinsic to development. Second, the importance of ensuring peace and inclusive sustainable growth. And third, a need for urgent action to enhance the ability of women and youth, like you, to take part in the transformation of their societies.”

Tawakkol Karman

2000s, Youth Q&A on the U.N. High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda Report (2009)

Women , Youth , Peace , Parting

“Soon after the military coup that deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy, I announced that I would join the pro-Morsy demonstration outside of Cairo's Rabaa al-Adaweya square…I wished to protest the killing, forcible disappearance, and jailing of coup opponents…I declared publicly that I was going to Rabaa al-Adaweya to defend the gains of the Jan. 25, 2011, revolution -- freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and the right of the people to select their rulers.”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Morsy is the Arab World's Mandela (2013)

People , Peace , Freedom

“American policy makers must understand that the activists and young people who started Yemen’s peaceful revolution deeply respect the United States and Western civilization…We call on American officials to engage with the leaders of Yemen’s democracy movement and abandon their misplaced investment in the old regime’s security apparatus”

Tawakkol Karman

2010s, Yemen’s Unfinished Revolution, 2011

People , Peace , Democracy , Understanding