Thread by @monaeltahawy

My new essay: For Loujain, Who Terrified a Monarchy feministgiant.com/p/for-loujain-… #LoujainAlhathloul

Loujain al-Hathloul is the hero of her own story. So clamorous was her courage, so loud was her refusal to break that it created more of a ruckus for the Saudi regime inside prison than outside, so they sent her home, where her enforced silence would be a reprieve for them.

She is not a “goodwill gesture” or a “concession” to Biden by MBS. Women are not bargaining chips to curry favour with your biggest ally so that it continues to arm you to the teeth and look the other way as you commit war crimes with said weapons. feministgiant.com/p/for-loujain-…

I am an Egyptian who moved to Saudi Arabia as a teenager, before Loujain was born. I often say I was traumatized into feminism in that kingdom of gender apartheid. And as an Egyptian, I celebrate February 11, the 10th anniv of our long-time dictator Mubarak’s ouster by #Jan25

There was no political revolution in Saudi Arabia like those in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries in the region. But a social revolution has begun. Its vanguard is not a crown prince who claims to be an emancipator of women.

The true leaders are the feminists MBS has detained, banned from travel, and silenced for daring to demand freedom.

Long may they terrify him.

Long live the feminists who do not fear the patriarch.

Long live the feminists who terrify authoritarians. feministgiant.com/p/for-loujain-…