Muna Al-Munajed

Pioneering Jordanian journalist and women's rights activist who championed media freedom and gender equality in the Arab world.

Muna Al-Munajed is a trailblazing Jordanian journalist and activist who broke barriers as the first Arab woman to host a TV talk show. Starting in the 1980s, she challenged societal norms through her program Al-Munajed, which tackled taboo topics like women's rights and political corruption. Her fearless reporting led to multiple arrests and exile, but she continued advocating for press freedom and gender equality.

Al-Munajed co-founded the Amnesty International Jordan Committee and helped draft Jordan's 2010 Press Law reforms. Her memoir My Voice Won't Be Silenced details her struggles against censorship. She pioneered the use of social media for activism, creating viral campaigns like #JordaniansDemandFreedom.

Despite retiring from journalism in 2015, she remains a vocal critic of authoritarianism. Her work inspired a generation of Arab women journalists, including Nadwa Al-Dawsari. Al-Munajed's legacy is seen in Jordan's improved press rankings and increased female media representation, though challenges persist. She continues advocating for digital rights through her NGO Muna Foundation.