Rebel: My Escape from Saudi Arabia to Freedom by Rahaf Mohammed is out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

A gripping true story of bravery and sacrifice by a young woman whose escape from Saudi Arabia captivated the world.

‘Rahaf is going to start a revolution.’ – Time Magazine

‘Rahaf ultimately fled the Kingdom, under cover of darkness by the skin of her teeth, in order to spread her wings. Saudi women deserve better, safer options for their future.’ – Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of Infidel and Prey

‘An inspiring read that will leave you shaking with fury, and then cheering in solidarity.’ – Sophie Mcneill, Human Rights Watch, author of We Can’t Say We Didn’t Know

‘The striking image of a young woman, wielding nothing but a cell phone, facing down the force of an oppressive government is an apt metaphor for this fraught moment in Saudi Arabia’s history.’ – The Washington Post

Through her courageous resistance, she has, for a moment, drawn global attention to the ongoing struggle of Saudi women. The striking image of a young woman, wielding nothing but a cellphone, facing down the force of an oppressive government is an apt metaphor for this fraught moment in Saudi Arabia’s history.’ – The Washington Post

In early 2019, after more than a year of careful planning, Rahaf Mohammed boarded a plane and finally escaped from Saudi Arabia. If caught, she was sure she would be killed, like other rebel women who had tried to flee her country’s oppressive regime.

But the eighteen-year-old only made it as far as Bangkok before her passport was taken away. It was a trick, and soon she found herself trapped, barricaded in a hotel room. As men pounded on her door, the teenager decided to reach out to the world on Twitter – and the world answered. Her account gained forty-five thousand followers overnight and offered her a vital lifeline. This was Rahaf’s chance at a new life, the one she had dreamed of.

Now Rahaf tells her remarkable story for the first time and reveals the dystopian reality of what life is like for women within Saudi Arabia. From the guardianship system, which places unmarried women under the full control of their male relatives, to the secretive online underground network of Saudi runaways plotting their escape, Rebel is a gripping memoir of resistance and bravery by a woman determined to tell the truth about life in the closed kingdom.

About the author

Rahaf Mohammed was eighteen years old when she dramatically escaped from Saudi Arabia, capturing world-wide attention through her Twitter account. The daughter of a high-profile politician, Rahaf was raised according to an oppressive interpretation of Islam, where women and girls are given virtually no freedom. Knowing this, she staged an international escape in January 2019, which was sabotaged by the Saudi authorities. Rahaf was eventually granted asylum by Canada, where she still resides.

Categories International Non-fiction

Tags Jonathan Ball Publishers New books New releases Rahaf Mohammed Rebel