Enass Muzamel

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Enass Muzamel (Arabic: ايناس مزمل; 1981[1] – 4 February 2024) was a Sudanese human rights activist and democracy activist. After playing a prominent organising role during the Sudanese revolution, she co-founded Madaniya, a peacebuilding organisation, and served as its director until her death in 2024.[2]

Early life[edit]

Muzamel was born and raised in Sudan. Her father died when she was 13, and she and her six sisters were raised by their mother.[3] Muzamel trained as a development practitioner, and for a time volunteered for the United Nations.[4]

Activism[edit]

Sudanese Female Cyclists Initiative[edit]

In 2017, Muzamel established the Sudanese Female Cyclists Initiative, which promoted women's participation in outdoor sports, as well as their access to public spaces. In 1991, then-President of Sudan Omar al-Bashir had issued public order laws based on his interpretation of sharia law, which had prohibited women from wearing trousers; in addition, a cultural belief existed that riding bikes would cause women to lose their virginities.[5][6][7][8] Muzamel stated that the al-Bashir regime used its religious credentials to limit criticism, but that most Sudanese people were more moderate and accepting of women riding bikes and taking part in sports, though did report some harassment, primarily from men, during cycles.[9][10]

The Sudanese Female Cyclists Initiative met weekly at a park in central Khartoum, and by 2018 had over 50 members. Muzamel received practical and financial support from the Sudan Cycling Federation and the Dutch embassy. A woman from the group went on to become Khartoum's first female delivery driver.[11]

Sudanese revolution and founding of Madaniya[edit]

During the Sudanese revolution, Muzamel raised funds, mobilised women, and took part in protests. The revolution ultimately led to the ousting of Omar al-Bashir.[2] Following the revolution, in 2019 she founded Madaniya (Arabic: مدنية, lit. 'civil government'), an organisation co-ordinating civic engagement, grassroots advocacy, and crisis support for women and girls.[4][12] Through Madaniya, Muzamel often supported rape survivors, including ensuring their access to post-rape care, including through the distribution of rape kits.[13] Support for survivors was often poor due to limited medication and other services across the country, as well as due to abortion being illegal under Sudanese law, leading to women using traditional methods including vaginal douching using herbs.[13][14] In 2021, Muzamel took part in protests after the coup d'état against Abdalla Hamdok by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces during Sudan's transition to democracy, and publicly called for the army to leave Sudanese politics.[15]

War in Sudan[edit]

Following the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, Muzamel was displaced from her home in Khartoum. She and two of her sisters were subsequently evacuated to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with support of the American Friends Service Committee.[2][16][17] Muzamel has been critical of the conflict being labelled as a civil war, stating that it was between two factions and had nothing to do with the Sudanese people, who were suffering as a result; she publicly called for a ceasefire and a peace agreement through an inclusive negotiation process.[18] She described both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces of being "terrorists" and accused them of committing crimes against humanity, calling on international governments to place sanctions on both sides and to start a reconstruction campaign in Sudan.[19][20]

During the war, Muzamel worked to secure health access for survivors of rape, including HIV prevention medications such as PrEP as well as contraception, and means by which to evacuate. After her evacuation from Sudan, Muzamel continued to use social media to establish an informal network including health professionals and other activists, to ensure that what medication and resources were available were reaching survivors. Muzamel stated this was complicated by relief organisations being unable to get aid into the country, as well as many hospitals being either bombed or occupied, and she called on the international community to act in solidarity with the Sudanese people to bring an end to the war and to build a democratic society.[2][7][13][16][19]

Death[edit]

Muzamel died following a short illness on 4 February 2024.[2]

Recognition[edit]

In October 2023, Muzamel received the Vital Voices Global Leadership Award from Hillary Clinton at an event in Washington, D.C. in recognition of her activism.[1][3]

In December 2023, The Guardian named Muzamel as one of the most inspiring people of 2023.[16]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Remembering Peace Activist Enass Muzamel". Vital Voices. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 7 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Morgan, Charlotte (5 February 2024). "In Tribute to Enass Muzamel". International Civil Society Action Network. Archived from the original on 10 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Sudanese woman honored with Hillary Clinton". Africa Business. 29 October 2023. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b Evans, Lauren (25 January 2024). "Pursuing Peace in Sudan: From Civil Society Groups to the International Community". Friends Committee on National Legislation. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  5. ^ "The 21st Anniversary of the WPS Agenda: Progress or Regress?". London School of Economics and Political Science. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  6. ^ Passilly, Augustine (11 March 2021). "Le vélo pour s'émanciper des hommes" [The bicycle to emancipate yourself from men]. La Presse (in French). Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b Wenger, Karin A. (14 August 2023). "Vergewaltigung als Kriegswaffe: Frauen im Sudan" [Rape as a weapon of war: women in Sudan]. Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). ISSN 0376-6829. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  8. ^ Maher, Ahmed (5 May 2021). "Sudan's women flogged in public by young men 'inspired by' violent social media campaign". The National. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  9. ^ al Khashali, Abbas (27 May 2019). "خبراء عرب لـ DW: حرية المعلومة تكمن في قيمتها لا في سعرها" [Arab experts told DW: freedom of information lies in its value, not its price]. Deutsche Welle (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  10. ^ "Ep. 64: ENASS MUZAMEL TALKS PROTESTING A DICTATORSHIP ON THE STREETS OF SUDAN". The Manila Times. 10 November 2022. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  11. ^ Fadl, Ahmed (29 October 2018). "دراجيات الخرطوم .. فتيات يكسرن القيود في الهواء الطلق" [Khartoum bikers... girls breaking restrictions outdoors]. Al Jazeera (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  12. ^ Passilly, Augustine (7 November 2023). "Enass Muzamel, féministe soudanaise et faiseuse de paix" [Enass Muzamel, Sudanese feminist and peacemaker]. Le Temps (in French). ISSN 1423-3967. Archived from the original on 17 December 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  13. ^ a b c Strzyżyńska, Weronika (14 June 2023). "Anguish as rape survivors in Sudan unable to access vital medication". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  14. ^ "معاناة الناجيات من الاغتصاب في السودان من غياب الأدوية - الغارديان" [The suffering of rape survivors in Sudan due to the absence of medicines - The Guardian]. BBC News Arabic (in Arabic). 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  15. ^ ben Salah, Faïrouz (13 April 2022). "De Soedanese vrouwen dragen het protest" [The Sudanese women carry the protest]. De Groene Amsterdammer (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  16. ^ a b c Ratcliffe, Rebecca; Dhillon, Amrit; Johnson, Sarah; Strzyżyńska, Weronika; Harter, Fred; Dehghan, Saeed Kamali; Ahmed, Kaamil; Miettaux, Florence; Begum, Thaslima (25 December 2023). "We can be heroes: the inspiring people we met around the world in 2023". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Update: Humanitarian response in Sudan". American Friends Service Committee. 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  18. ^ "A tribute to Enass Muzamel". American Friends Service Committee. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  19. ^ a b "High Commissioner for Human Rights: the Reckless, Senseless Conflict in Sudan Has Resulted in a Human Rights and Humanitarian Crisis that Is Unfolding at an Alarming Rate and on a Devastating Scale". Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  20. ^ Schlein, Lisa (21 June 2023). "Sudan Conflict—A Regional Powder Keg". Voice of America. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
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