Brave Saudi Woman Finishes Third in Million's Poet Contest

Posted on April 8, 2010

Voice of America is reporting a brave Saudi woman named Hissa Hilal defied death threats to finish third in the Million's Poet contest. Her poetry has also criticized religious extremism. She finished third and took home $800,000.

In the weeks leading up to Wednesday evening's final she wrote and recited poetry condemning the strict laws in her country that separate men and women and also spoke out against Islamic clerics who issue hard-line religious decrees.
Her work was applauded by many who labeled her "brave," but it was also met with resentment from conservative members of Saudi society, some of whom issued death threats against her. Despite the dangers, Hilal refused to back out of the tournament, saying she had a message to get across.

The BBC says the death threat against Hilal were posted on the Internet. You can read more about Hissa Hilal here in the Christian Science Monitor. You can listen to her reading one of her poems in the video below. Take a look:

Update 5-23-19: The story of Hissa Hilal has since been made into a documentary film from Wolff Films called The Poetess. The film is directed by Stefanie Brockhaus and Andreas Wolff. Here is the trailer: