Not too long ago, no one would have heard of the plight of a Saudi teenager seeking refuge from family and cultural oppression in her home country. But the power of social media made Rahaf Mohammed al Qunun’s struggle into an international news story.
Junta-ruled Thailand is not known for its fidelity to human rights norms. But international public attention led Immigration Police chief Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn to allow Rahaf Mohammed temporary refuge in Thailand. She is one of several Saudi women who has turned to social media to publicize domestic abuse and seek international aid.