Zainab Al-Khawaja is a prominent Bahraini human rights activist. Born in 1983, she gained international attention for her activism in the pro-democracy movement that emerged in Bahrain during the Arab Spring in 2011. Zainab comes from a family with a history of activism, as her father, Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, is also a well-known human rights defender.
Zainab Al-Khawaja has been involved in various peaceful protests and demonstrations advocating for political reforms, human rights, and democracy in Bahrain. She has been arrested multiple times for her activism and has faced charges related to her participation in protests, tearing up pictures of the king, and other acts of civil disobedience.
In addition to her activism, Zainab has used social media platforms to raise awareness about the human rights situation in Bahrain and to share updates on her own experiences and those of other activists. She has faced legal consequences for her activities, including imprisonment.
Zainab Al-Khawaja Quotes
1. “The people in the West are supposed to believe that Bahrain is a country whose people live a life of peace, but we suffer under a regime that does not want to hear our screaming. The people of more than 20 villages are participating in the protests. They are fed up with the fact that they cannot express their opinions freely.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
2. “I want self-determination. If that means having a constitutional monarchy as the first step, fine. But, in the end, people in Bahrain should have the right to vote and choose their president. A single family should not be allowed to rule on its own.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
3. “I am Shiite and proud of it. But the green bracelet I am wearing on my right arm, and which identifies me as a Shiite, does not symbolize that I believe I am superior. I am first and foremost a Bahraini.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
4. “I am not proud of the King of Bahrain, in whose name people have been killed.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
5. “We don’t want peace over freedom. We will choose freedom over peace. We will go on with our fight for self-determination and democracy. But if things continue the way they are, I expect the situation to become more violent.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
6. “A dialogue sounds like a great idea, but we don’t think the government actually wants one. The royal family lied in 2011 when they said they were ready for dialogue. Now we have suffered even more and we will not give up our rights.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
7. “If someone is calling for democracy, he is calling for an end of a dictatorship and if this is the will of the people, this could also mean overthrowing the regime.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
8. “We will not keep silent, even if Formula One is taking place. We will protest for human rights and freedom.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
9. “The government is not doing anything to help the country to heal. The government is just making cosmetic changes.”
— Zainab al-Khawaja
