Gutsy woman of the week
When you're a feminist in a conservative area, you can find yourself feeling alone. Just ask Wajiha al-Haweidar:
Wajiha al-Huweidar, an outspoken writer, said she was taken in by police for carrying a placard urging King Abdullah to grant more rights to women...
Huweidar, 45, said she protested on a busy causeway leading to neighbouring Bahrain, where women enjoy greater rights.
"A year after his (King Abdullah's) enthronement and after promising us more rights, the picture on women's rights remains very opaque," Huweidar told Reuters by telephone. "I'm not alone in this, a lot of women in the country aspire for more rights.
"Police treatment was faultless, they interrogated me and asked for a male (relative) ... to sign a pledge that I will not do such a thing again, my brother came and signed it for me.
"I won't march again on the bridge as I promised, but there are other ways to protest."
Wow. I am in awe. That is one hardcore feminist sister. Imagine staging a march all by yourself with your little sign, in a country where public protest is illegal, where you've got to have your brother come promise you'll behave - and after they let you out of jail, immediately starting to figure out more ways to make yourself heard within the law. Now that's perseverance.
You're not alone, Ms. al-Huweidar. I know your fellow Saudi feminists are proud of you and glad to see you standing strong for them. And I promise I'm cheering as hard as I can from here.