Date of Birth: April 25, 1979
Zodiac Sign: Taurus
Biography
Manal al-Sharif is a Saudi Arabian women’s rights activist and author, best known for her role in the women’s driving campaign in Saudi Arabia. Born in Mecca, she grew up in an environment that strictly adhered to the country’s conservative norms. Despite these limitations, al-Sharif pursued education and earned a degree in computer science. She worked as an information security consultant at Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company. Her activism began in earnest in 2011 when she posted a video of herself driving a car in Saudi Arabia, where women were prohibited from driving. This bold move led to her arrest and imprisonment, sparking international outcry and drawing attention to the restrictive laws against women in Saudi Arabia. Her courage inspired many other women to follow suit, eventually contributing to the lifting of the driving ban in 2018. Manal al-Sharif has since moved to Australia, where she continues her advocacy for women’s rights and freedom. She authored the memoir “Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman’s Awakening,” which chronicles her life and activism.
5 Interesting Facts about Manal al-Sharif
1. Manal al-Sharif co-founded the “Women2Drive” movement in Saudi Arabia.
2. She was named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2012.
3. Her memoir, “Daring to Drive,” has been translated into multiple languages.
4. She has received numerous awards for her activism, including the Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent.
5. Al-Sharif is also an accomplished public speaker and has given talks at prestigious venues, including TEDx.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Manal al-Sharif
1. “The rain begins with a single drop.”
2. “Driving, to me, was a way to reclaim my basic right to freedom.”
3. “I am not a hero. I just wanted to stand up for myself and for other women.”
4. “If women don’t stand for their rights, the rights will be taken away from them.”
5. “The moment I was arrested, I felt the fear dissolve. I had nothing more to lose.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Her highest net worth is not publicly disclosed; however, her influence and advocacy have garnered significant international recognition and support.
Children
Manal al-Sharif has two children, a son named Aboudi from her first marriage and another son from her second marriage.
Relevant Links
1. [Manal al-Sharif’s TED Talk](https://www.ted.com/speakers/manal_al_sharif
4. [Manal al-Sharif’s Official Website](https://www.manaralsharif.com/
5. [Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent](https://www.havelprize.org
