Unfortunately, not all people believe that everyone should have the right to decide what to do with their own lives. A young woman became the victim of online abuse after she showed before-and-after pictures of herself wearing a niqab vs. her wearing a bikini.
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun escaped from her abusive family Saudi Arabian family, renounced Islam, became an atheist, and now lives in Canada. She now celebrates being “a free woman” and not being “forced to wear black sheets and being controlled by men.”
While there were many people cyberbullying 19-year-old Rahaf, the woman also had lots of supporters online as well.
More info: Twitter
Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun posted before-and-after pictures comparing her life in Saudi Arabia and in Canada
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Image credits: rahaf84427714
There were lots of people who insulted Rahaf for these pictures
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Rahaf ran away from her family in January 2019 when they were in Kuwait. She then flew to Bangkok but was denied entry: her passport was seized and her story went viral under the hashtag #SaveRahaf.
“They threaten to kill me and prevent me from continuing my education. They won’t let me drive or travel. I am oppressed. I love life and work and I am very ambitious but my family is preventing me from living,” she said about her family members.
The young woman ran away from her family when they were in Kuwait
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Canada welcomed Rahaf with open arms after she ran away from her abusive family
Image credits: CTVToronto
Image credits: rahaf84427714
Rahaf received UN protection and was granted asylum in Canada. The country’s prime minister Justin Trudeau himself stated that Canada would welcome her.
Here's a video that goes into more detail about Rahaf's plight
Al Jazeera writes that Rahaf was abused by her family since she was 16 years old. Rahaf hoped that her story would empower other Saudi Arabian women to be “brave and free” and run away from their families just as she did.
“I was exposed to physical violence, persecution, oppression, threats to be killed," she said. "I felt that I could not achieve my dreams that I wanted as long as I was still living in Saudi Arabia.”
“It's daily oppression. We are treated as an object, like a slave. We could not make decisions about what we want."
Rahaf had plans to learn English, go back to school, and find a job in Canada.
Lots of people showed their support for Rahaf
Image credits: MusicMelbMary
Image credits: Maribellacy
Image credits: mashaal1saif
Image credits: luisalonsoramos
Here's even more people showing their support
