User:Cosmo1836/Nadia Bakhurji

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Nadia H. Bakhurji is a Saudi architect and businessperson. She has accomplished many impressive projects and milestones in her lifetime and shown immense support to women seeking opportunities and rights in a male-dominated field and nation.

Standing up for Women Rights
'''Nadia Bakhurji is nationally known for her stance on women rights. In a nation where Saudi women were considered voiceless, she voiced for change.'''

As a result of the 9/11 attacks on the US of 2001, the clash between conservatives and liberals in Saudi Arabia centered around women evolved primarily by Saudi nationals.These events prompted a reevaluation of the kingdom's ideology and its stance on various societal matters, including the status of women.

'''A primary example of initiatives taken against the freedom of women was how Saudi Arabia prohibited women from driving. Nadia Bakhurji, architect who runs her own firm was one of the leading women voices who spoke about this matter, claiming in an interview that society should be prepared to allow women to drive.'''

Bakhurji became a founding board member for the Arab International Women's Forum in 2000. She became the first Saudi woman to register as candidate for the Riyadh Local Municipality elections, in 2004, which was subsequently "nullified by Saudi officials" when women's suffrage was banned in Saudi Arabia.

'''In 2005, Nadia attempted to initiate action, only to be informed that women couldn't participate due to the lack of necessary arrangements. However, even those urging the government to take a firmer stance acknowledge the formidable challenges ahead.'''

Later in 2005, she became the first woman to become a member of the board of the Saudi Council of Engineers. She was recognized in the 11th Middle East Women Leaders Awards in 2012.

'''In 2009, Nadia challenged the decision of permitting women to participate in the Saudi city council elections of 2009, which women were usually excluded from. As of 2009, six women including Nadia came forward as candidates with the support of striking women's right activist and campaigner, Hatoon al-Fassi.'''