Pretty Woman. Rebel. Reformer. Ameerah Al Taweel. Why is she referred to as Princess Diana of the
East? How is her love story similar to the movie "50 Shades of Grey"? And how did she change the
lives of millions of women in Saudi Arabia?
Listen to the story of this amazing woman who is
admired around the world. But first, please like and subscribe so you don't miss new videos. This
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Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel is the ex-wife of
Saudi Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Al-Saud. She was one of the first in her homeland
to abandon the closed traditional abaya dress and wear elegant modern clothing.
She destroys all stereotypes about Arab women with her behavior. It is a well-known fact that
in Muslim countries women can appear in society only in closed clothing and with their heads
covered. Saudi Arabia has always had some of the strictest rules in Islam. Decisions for
a woman are made by her husband or father, and women were forbidden to drive a car or even
ride a bicycle. But much has changed in this country thanks to this brave and kind woman.
Ameerah Al-Taweel was born in 1983 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Her parents
separated when Ameerah was a child. She was raised by her mother and grandmother. As a child,
she wanted to become a doctor and help people.
At 18, her life changed completely when she
met her future husband Prince Al-Waleed.
Their acquaintance was very reminiscent of the
movie Fifty Shades of Grey. She was an aspiring journalist for the school newspaper, he was
one of the most influential and wealthy men in Saudi Arabia. But, it is worth noting that
the prince, unlike Mr. Gray from the movie, was not so handsome and young.
“— And what about you? I’d like to know more about you.
— There’ s really not much to know about me. Look at me.
— I am.”
Their age difference was 28 years, but that didn't stop them from getting
married just nine months after they first met.
Ameerah was surrounded by unimaginable luxury. She accompanied her husband on
business trips and social events.
Her husband, Al-Waleed, is on Forbes magazine's
top list with a fortune of more than $18 billion. His main palace in Riyadh has more than 300
rooms: marble, pools and his portraits.
Al-Waleed bin Talal Al Saud is the first and only
person in the world to own a personal super-giant aircraft known as the "Flying Palace. It has
an elevator that connects the three floors of the plane. There is a prayer room with electronic
mats that automatically turn toward Mecca. There is even a concert hall with a stage and grand
piano to entertain guests during the flight. There is also a boardroom, a Turkish bath,
and a garage for the Prince's Rolls Royce.
When she was married, Ameerah went to study
in the United States, where she graduated with a degree in business administration.
The socially active princess established Foundations that support medicine,
education, and women's rights.
Ameerah had been pushing for years for
women in her country to be allowed to drive, get a job and get an education without the
permission of their husbands or fathers.
Ameerah is close friends with Manal al-Sharif,
a well-known activist in Saudi Arabia. Manal was the first Saudi woman to venture behind the
wheel of a car and publish this video on YouTube. It's hard to believe, but the girl was
jailed for nine days for doing so.
Ameerah confessed that she thought Manal
was a brilliant and fearless woman.
Other Muslim countries also have
problems with women's rights. Did you know that there are thousands of
young people protesting the hijab in Iran? Write in the comments
what you think about it?
Let’s get back to our princess. Ameerah
participated equally with men in TV and radio debates in the world media. Which, for
a Muslim country, is nonsense in itself!
In 2011, she attended the "Voices of Change in the
Middle East and North Africa" session where she spoke with former U.S. President Bill Clinton!
When she was pictured in the media without her face covered, speaking out about driving
and voting, her husband's older brother publicly called it an affront to family
honor and warned of serious consequences. But despite the threats, Ameerah continued
to follow what her heart told her to do.
In 2013, the couple unexpectedly divorced.
Their marriage lasted 11 years. And Ameerah herself filed for divorce, which
once again shocked the Saudis.
The couple never had children together.
It was rumored that the marriage contract prohibited Ameerah from having a child with the
prince, who already had two heirs at that time.
And yet the main reason for the separation was
too bright and independent image of the princess, adored by millions of ordinary people, but
irritating the royal relatives of the spouse. In a fairly short period of time Ameerah
turned into Princess Diana of the Arab world.
She continues to be active, and most of
her time is devoted to charity. Ameerah has visited more than 70 countries. She fights
poverty in various countries and helps eliminate the consequences of natural disasters.
Her efforts led to the opening of the Center for Islamic Studies at Cambridge University;
the creation of an orphanage in West Africa; and the establishment of a fund to help the
poor in Somalia, which she personally heads. Her motto is «Evolution, not revolution».
Five years after her divorce from her first husband, Ameerah married billionaire Khalifa bin
Butti al Muhairi. The luxurious ceremony was held in secret at the Chateau de Vaux-Le-Vicomte
palace in France. Guests included royalty, aristocracy and celebrities such
as Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King.
A year after the wedding, the
couple had a son, Zayed. They now live in a residence near Paris.
In 2017, Ameerah's ex-husband was arrested in connection with a corruption
scandal. Al-Waleed sat in detention for almost three months and was released after
paying a huge fine to the state treasury.
On June 24, 2018, the king of Saudi Arabia allowed
women to drive. Until then, the country was the last in the world where women were not allowed
behind the wheel under threat of punishment.
Ameerah Al-Taweel, along with other socially
active women, have changed the lives of millions of women not only in Saudi Arabia but
throughout the Muslim world. And they go on.
Do you know what rights women around the world
are still fighting for? Or what rights are being violated in your country?
Please share in the comments!
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