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In January, I wrote a thread about meeting @LoujainHathloul and Fahad Albutairi. Since then, I've been involved in advocating for Loujain's release from prison, where she has been held and tortured for over a year and where, today, she spends her 30th birthday... #FreeLoujain
The failure of the US government to push for the release of Loujain and other human rights' activists (or for the punishment of those responsible for the murder of @JKhashoggi) is one of many stains left on the world by the Trump administration.
Members of Congress have pushed for sanctions, called for justice. Meanwhile, Trump and his family make side deals with MbS, taking payoffs for nuclear tech and weapons. Jared Kushner is on his way to KSA right now. Will he mention Loujain? Unlikely. There's no money in that.
It is disheartening to see the calendar pages turn, the seasons change, and to know that Loujain is still in prison, on specious charges (filed after she'd already been held for almost a year), just because she wanted the same fundamental rights as men...
Rights MbS has been granting, incrementally. It was just important to him that Loujain and other women get no credit for that, lest they (or others) be encouraged to ask for more.
So she sits. And most of the world moves on, because there are a lot of crises to address.
So she sits. And most of the world moves on, because there are a lot of crises to address.
If you can, though, be still today, for a moment, and think about Loujain on her birthday. Aim a little light at a young woman who just wanted to live her life freely, who has been trapped in darkness. Then work for a world that stands up for her. #FreeLoujain
