Yemeni Nobel Laureate visits Doha media centre

HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receiving Tawakul Karman, Nobel Prize winning Yemeni journalist and activist, who is also the founder and chairwoman of ‘Women Journalists Without Chains’, at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The Heir Apparent congratulated Karman on winning the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, and wished her more success in the future. Tawakul Karman expressed thanks and appreciation to the Heir Apparent for the hospitality accorded to her, saying that winning the Nobel prize represents a motivation to work for peace

Tawakul Karman, the recently named Yemeni Nobel Laureate, visited the Doha Centre for Media Freedom (DCMF) yesterday to learn about the centre’s activities and to discuss possible areas of support in helping free Yemen’s media. The activist was received by Jan Keulen, DCMF director, and Ayman Bardawil, DCMF programmes manager. During the meeting, Karman briefed Keulen on the current situation in Yemen in general, and for Yemeni journalists in particular. “The revolution has generated self-confidence for Yemeni people and a bright future lies ahead for Yemen after the change of the dictatorial regime,” Karman said.Karman, who believes her recent recognition represents the legitimacy of Yemen’s revolution and the role played by women, said it was important for her country to have an independent television and radio station. “I want a channel that will be the free voice of the people,” said Karman, a mother of three. “This is our revolution, we have to make it win.”“I think it will be the first channel that will care about peace, human rights and anti-corruption. It will spread a new culture and it will be strong.”She added that the station would be a useful tool to spread information, rather than newspapers, due to high levels of illiteracy. “All we have now are the old channels, with the same messages. This is very important and I think it will bring about a lot of change,” said Karman.Keulen expressed the centre’s readiness to provide assistance to Yemeni journalists. “We are following the situation in Yemen closely,” said Keulen. “We wish to support the Yemeni media, especially the women journalists, and we believe that it is necessary to specify the needs and means that will enable us to provide such help in promoting freedom of expression.“We have currently an intensive programme to boost the media in Libya after the revolution and we are ready to provide similar programmes in Yemen.” Keulen also said that the Centre is willing to provide training courses for Yemen’s next generation of journalists and to contribute to medical expenses for those injured while covering the revolution. Karman was one of three women awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize in October, becoming the first Yemeni citizen and the first Arab woman to receive the recognition. A prominent activist and advocate of human rights and freedom of expression for the last five years, she has led regular protests and sit-ins calling for the release of political prisoners.