Saudi Teen Throws Off Niqab After Fleeing To Canada To Be ‘Free Woman’
BY : EMILY BROWN ON : 05 FEB 2020 09:54

A Saudi teenager who was granted asylum in Canada has shared pictures of herself living as a ‘free woman’ without a niqab.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, fled Saudi Arabia at the start of this year after renouncing Islam; a decision punishable by death in the country.

She flew to Bangkok with plans to continue on to Australia, but Thai officials stopped her and told her to return to Kuwait, where her family were waiting. The teen refused to comply and barricaded herself in her airport hotel room, where she remained for six nights.

Rahaf launched a campaign for asylum on Twitter, telling her followers she was afraid her family would ‘kill’ her if she returned home.

The UN’s refugee agency said it considered Rahaf to be a legitimate refugee and requested she be granted asylum in Canada.

Canada’s officials agreed, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau telling reporters:

Canada has been unequivocal that we will always stand up for human rights and women’s rights around the world. When the UN made a request of us that we grant Ms al-Qunun asylum, we accepted.

Rahaf landed in Toronto on January 11 and has since been getting used to her new life. A couple of weeks after her arrival, the 18-year-old took part in a Twitter thread, requesting people share photos of ‘major appearance changes’.

The teen shared two images of herself; one in which she wore a niqab with only her eyes visible, and another taken on a beach, where she had a bare face and shoulders and sunglasses on her head.

Alongside the images, Rahaf wrote:

The biggest change in my life.. from being forced to wear black sheets and being controlled by men to being a free woman.

She spoke to The New York Times about the huge transition, explaining she was excited to ‘do crazy things [she’s] never done before’ as part of her new life.

Commenting on her asylum, Rahaf said:

From the welcome I had and love I’ve been shown, I saw this is a country that respects human rights and the dignity of a person. It’s also cold.

The teen recalled her life in Saudi Arabia, where she had been a first year university student studying basic science and maths.

She described her life as being controlled by strict rules, referencing a time she cut her hair in a way her family did not approve of. As punishment for her actions, her brother locked her in a room for six months.

On another occasion, Rahaf removed her niqab, which lead to her brother beating her and locking her up again.

Rahaf is now worried her family will take out its anger on her younger sister, who is still at home. Rahaf’s search for asylum received a lot of attention on social media, and she is considering her platform as a force for good.

She commented:

I have a lot of followers. My voice is heard. Maybe I can do something with it.

Saudi Arabia’s guardianship system means women must have permission from a male relative to travel outside the country, study abroad or get married.

Bluntguy:


She was living in bondage, but now she is free. Welcome to the world of freedom, girl.

budaatum:

OLAADEGBU:


Are you a woman?

budaatum:


Would it make a difference if I wasn't?

OLAADEGBU:


Are you a he, she or it? Please tell us, don't be shy of revealing your gender.

budaatum:


buda is not shy. buda is just genderless.

That way, you can't blame my bits for my opinions.

OLAADEGBU:


There is nothing like genderless, I need to know whether I am speaking man to man or not.

budaatum:


You may need to know, degbu, as much as you want, but buda will not be moved by your huffing and puffing!

Originality007:


nice, nothing like freedom

lalasticlala front page pls

budaatum:


www.nairaland.com/attachments/11000416_notablestrongwoman11_jpeg51d917daca049a9bac35cc9e4fcb0942

OLAADEGBU:


I can smell a rat with these fist pumping.

budaatum:


With your nose that fails to work, I bet.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/11686157_20200604095037000_jpeg_jpeg6ea4df84e0b7ddb1ccb06289691723ad

cRobo:
Can one say islam is bondage

motayoayinde:


NO YOU CAN'T.

JUST THE SAME WAY YOU DON'T SAY MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS WAS IN BONDAGE FOR DRESSING THE WAY SHE DID TWO MILLENNIA AGO.

FOR EVERY WOMAN WHO THROWS OFF THE VEIL, THERE ARE MANY MORE WHO PICK IT UP EVEN IN THE WEST.

IT'S ALL A MATTER OF CONVICTION.

LET ISLAM BE.

cRobo:


Can one say islam is bondage