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Successful Arab Women History Will Never Forget

Published May 13th, 2018 - 07:49 GMT

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Thus, there has been and still is a huge number of women who push the envelope and refuse to stay within the small spaces allocated to them.

These women push further and rise higher than is expected of them, or anyone else for that matter.

What follows is an inspirational list of women - and their stories - in a part of the world that is not always associated, with women's rights.

 
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Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian journalist was arrested in 2011 during the Tahrir Square protests, and held at Egypt's Interior Ministry. Major themes in her work since then have been women's rights, and feminism working with Islam, she describes herself as "a secular, radical feminist Muslim." (AFP/ File Photo))

Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian journalist was arrested in 2011 during the Tahrir Square protests, and held at Egypt's Interior Ministry. Major themes in her work since then have been women's rights, and feminism working with Islam, she describes herself as "a secular, radical feminist Muslim." (AFP/ File Photo))

Manal Al Sharif is a Saudi activist has been at the center of two movements for women's right to drive in Saudi Arabia, and a movement to free incarcerated Saudi, Filipino, and Indonesian women who are in jail because of small amounts of money they owe which they cannot pay. (AFP/ File Photo)

Manal Al Sharif is a Saudi activist has been at the center of two movements for women's right to drive in Saudi Arabia, and a movement to free incarcerated Saudi, Filipino, and Indonesian women who are in jail because of small amounts of money they owe which they cannot pay. (AFP/ File Photo)

Tawwakkol Karman is a Yemeni journalist, politician, and human rights activist, Karman was the first Arab woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. She works to achieve freedom of speech in Yemen, and founded the campaign group Women Journalists Without Chains in 2005. She led a series of protests calling for the overturn of corrupt governments. (AFP)

Tawwakkol Karman is a Yemeni journalist, politician, and human rights activist, Karman was the first Arab woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. She works to achieve freedom of speech in Yemen, and founded the campaign group Women Journalists Without Chains in 2005. She led a series of protests calling for the overturn of corrupt governments. (AFP)

Zainab Salbi is an Iraqi published author, an activist, a social entrepreneur, and founder of the Women for Women International, focusing on women facing adversity due to wars. She focuses her work on giving a voice to Arab and Muslim women. (Facebook)

Zainab Salbi is an Iraqi published author, an activist, a social entrepreneur, and founder of the Women for Women International, focusing on women facing adversity due to wars. She focuses her work on giving a voice to Arab and Muslim women. (Facebook)

Dr. Nawal El Saadawi is an Egyptian psychiatrist, physician, writer, and activist shows no intention of slowing down at 83 years old. Dr. El Saadawi has been an active feminist since a very young age, having been circumcised at 6 years old.Saadawi was imprisoned during the rule of Sadat in Egypt. (AFP/ File Photo)

Dr. Nawal El Saadawi is an Egyptian psychiatrist, physician, writer, and activist shows no intention of slowing down at 83 years old. Dr. El Saadawi has been an active feminist since a very young age, having been circumcised at 6 years old.Saadawi was imprisoned during the rule of Sadat in Egypt. (AFP/ File Photo)

Dr. Hayat Sindi is a medical scientist who was the first Saudi Muslim woman in the Middle East to get a PhD in biotechnology, was one of the first female members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, and is the co-founder of Diagnostics For All. (Youtube)

Dr. Hayat Sindi is a medical scientist who was the first Saudi Muslim woman in the Middle East to get a PhD in biotechnology, was one of the first female members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, and is the co-founder of Diagnostics For All. (Youtube)

Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority nation. Bhutto was assassinated in 2007. Yet she continues to be an inspiration for women and girls. (AFP/ File Photo)

Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority nation. Bhutto was assassinated in 2007. Yet she continues to be an inspiration for women and girls. (AFP/ File Photo)

Dame Zaha Hadid was a world renowned British Iraqi architect who dazzled the world with her incredible designs. Widely regarded as the best female architect of the modern age, Zaha was the first woman and the first Muslim to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. (AFP/ File Photo)

Dame Zaha Hadid was a world renowned British Iraqi architect who dazzled the world with her incredible designs. Widely regarded as the best female architect of the modern age, Zaha was the first woman and the first Muslim to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. (AFP/ File Photo)

Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian journalist was arrested in 2011 during the Tahrir Square protests, and held at Egypt's Interior Ministry. Major themes in her work since then have been women's rights, and feminism working with Islam, she describes herself as "a secular, radical feminist Muslim." (AFP/ File Photo))
Manal Al Sharif is a Saudi activist has been at the center of two movements for women's right to drive in Saudi Arabia, and a movement to free incarcerated Saudi, Filipino, and Indonesian women who are in jail because of small amounts of money they owe which they cannot pay. (AFP/ File Photo)
Tawwakkol Karman is a Yemeni journalist, politician, and human rights activist, Karman was the first Arab woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. She works to achieve freedom of speech in Yemen, and founded the campaign group Women Journalists Without Chains in 2005. She led a series of protests calling for the overturn of corrupt governments. (AFP)
Zainab Salbi is an Iraqi published author, an activist, a social entrepreneur, and founder of the Women for Women International, focusing on women facing adversity due to wars. She focuses her work on giving a voice to Arab and Muslim women. (Facebook)
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi is an Egyptian psychiatrist, physician, writer, and activist shows no intention of slowing down at 83 years old. Dr. El Saadawi has been an active feminist since a very young age, having been circumcised at 6 years old.Saadawi was imprisoned during the rule of Sadat in Egypt. (AFP/ File Photo)
Dr. Hayat Sindi is a medical scientist who was the first Saudi Muslim woman in the Middle East to get a PhD in biotechnology, was one of the first female members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, and is the co-founder of Diagnostics For All. (Youtube)
Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority nation. Bhutto was assassinated in 2007. Yet she continues to be an inspiration for women and girls. (AFP/ File Photo)
Dame Zaha Hadid was a world renowned British Iraqi architect who dazzled the world with her incredible designs. Widely regarded as the best female architect of the modern age, Zaha was the first woman and the first Muslim to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. (AFP/ File Photo)
Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian journalist was arrested in 2011 during the Tahrir Square protests, and held at Egypt's Interior Ministry. Major themes in her work since then have been women's rights, and feminism working with Islam, she describes herself as "a secular, radical feminist Muslim." (AFP/ File Photo))
Mona Eltahawy is an Egyptian journalist was arrested in 2011 during the Tahrir Square protests, and held at Egypt's Interior Ministry. Major themes in her work since then have been women's rights, and feminism working with Islam, she describes herself as "a secular, radical feminist Muslim." (AFP/ File Photo))
Manal Al Sharif is a Saudi activist has been at the center of two movements for women's right to drive in Saudi Arabia, and a movement to free incarcerated Saudi, Filipino, and Indonesian women who are in jail because of small amounts of money they owe which they cannot pay. (AFP/ File Photo)
Manal Al Sharif is a Saudi activist has been at the center of two movements for women's right to drive in Saudi Arabia, and a movement to free incarcerated Saudi, Filipino, and Indonesian women who are in jail because of small amounts of money they owe which they cannot pay. (AFP/ File Photo)
Tawwakkol Karman is a Yemeni journalist, politician, and human rights activist, Karman was the first Arab woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. She works to achieve freedom of speech in Yemen, and founded the campaign group Women Journalists Without Chains in 2005. She led a series of protests calling for the overturn of corrupt governments. (AFP)
Tawwakkol Karman is a Yemeni journalist, politician, and human rights activist, Karman was the first Arab woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. She works to achieve freedom of speech in Yemen, and founded the campaign group Women Journalists Without Chains in 2005. She led a series of protests calling for the overturn of corrupt governments. (AFP)
Zainab Salbi is an Iraqi published author, an activist, a social entrepreneur, and founder of the Women for Women International, focusing on women facing adversity due to wars. She focuses her work on giving a voice to Arab and Muslim women. (Facebook)
Zainab Salbi is an Iraqi published author, an activist, a social entrepreneur, and founder of the Women for Women International, focusing on women facing adversity due to wars. She focuses her work on giving a voice to Arab and Muslim women. (Facebook)
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi is an Egyptian psychiatrist, physician, writer, and activist shows no intention of slowing down at 83 years old. Dr. El Saadawi has been an active feminist since a very young age, having been circumcised at 6 years old.Saadawi was imprisoned during the rule of Sadat in Egypt. (AFP/ File Photo)
Dr. Nawal El Saadawi is an Egyptian psychiatrist, physician, writer, and activist shows no intention of slowing down at 83 years old. Dr. El Saadawi has been an active feminist since a very young age, having been circumcised at 6 years old.Saadawi was imprisoned during the rule of Sadat in Egypt. (AFP/ File Photo)
Dr. Hayat Sindi is a medical scientist who was the first Saudi Muslim woman in the Middle East to get a PhD in biotechnology, was one of the first female members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, and is the co-founder of Diagnostics For All. (Youtube)
Dr. Hayat Sindi is a medical scientist who was the first Saudi Muslim woman in the Middle East to get a PhD in biotechnology, was one of the first female members of the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, and is the co-founder of Diagnostics For All. (Youtube)
Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority nation. Bhutto was assassinated in 2007. Yet she continues to be an inspiration for women and girls. (AFP/ File Photo)
Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who served as Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman to head a democratic government in a Muslim majority nation. Bhutto was assassinated in 2007. Yet she continues to be an inspiration for women and girls. (AFP/ File Photo)
Dame Zaha Hadid was a world renowned British Iraqi architect who dazzled the world with her incredible designs. Widely regarded as the best female architect of the modern age, Zaha was the first woman and the first Muslim to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. (AFP/ File Photo)
Dame Zaha Hadid was a world renowned British Iraqi architect who dazzled the world with her incredible designs. Widely regarded as the best female architect of the modern age, Zaha was the first woman and the first Muslim to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2004. (AFP/ File Photo)
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