#WeAreAllMary: Fighting for the rights of women in Jerusalem

A global campaign highlighting the plight of the Palestinian women of Jerusalem living under Israeli occupation has taken social media networks by storm.

Launched on 28 January, the #WeAreAllMary campaign set out to shed light on the struggle of Palestinian women and the challenges they face living under occupation. It aims to show solidarity with the women and “contribute to the lifting of injustice upon them”.

Images of the cruel reality endured by women in occupied Jerusalem.#WeAreAllMary pic.twitter.com/KbRhQVJ7P1

— We are all Mary (@weareallmary) January 28, 2019

Images of the cruel reality endured by women in occupied Jerusalem.#WeAreAllMary pic.twitter.com/WMRIJn2D0e

— We are all Mary (@weareallmary) January 28, 2019

“Mary” is described by the campaigners as “a symbolic figure inspired by the reality of the women of al-Quds who faces oppression for following and standing firm to the values and principles she believes in.” The campaign’s name is also inspired by the blessed mother of Jesus, who in Quranic and biblical traditions is no stranger to the streets of the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Who are we?
We are a group of people sharing the same interest of standing with oppressed women in troubled geographies, in hope to end the injustice in the world.
To support women of al-Quds, whose suffering is similar to Mary’s. pic.twitter.com/xjNX2Rd8eO

— We are all Mary (@weareallmary) January 21, 2019

Mary could be your mother, sister, or daughter… #كلنا_مريم #تويت_فلسطيني @sanacom2011 pic.twitter.com/qCP76iHL3F

— Aya Alhawari (@ayaalhawari) January 28, 2019

The international campaign which promotes solidarity with the women of Jerusalem, has invoked an international response with the hashtag #WeAreAllMary.

https://twitter.com/Reem_Gaza96/status/1089935052421636096

https://twitter.com/palestine_hb/status/1089935557680136192

https://twitter.com/DaysofPalestine/status/1089937416046235650

#WeAreAllMary
Mrs. Zarefa, Marka/Shnillar refugee camp, Jordan, 2009, the woman that inspired me to create #MotherPalestine pic.twitter.com/jgfuj4NKkc

— Carlos Latuff (@LatuffCartoons) January 28, 2019

God help our mothers#WeAreAllMary pic.twitter.com/VU1a49iMwi

— Aya Isleem 🇵🇸 #Gaza (@AyaIsleemEn) January 28, 2019

https://twitter.com/palestine_hb/status/1089945190436143104

An Israeli occupation hitting and removing the hijab of a Jerusalemite women, violently.#WeAreAllMary#FreePalestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/cX669Uq7Pl

— ‎﮼رفيف 🇵🇸 (@PalRafeef) January 29, 2019

Women of Jerusalem are denied freedom of movement, shopping, or visiting al-Aqsa Mosque.
This Israeli policy aims to oppress the women of Jerusalem. #WeAreAllMary #GroupPalestine #قروب_فلسطينيpic.twitter.com/gq0RgWDi57 .@weareallmary

— Cruz Landaeta | @landa_jj (@landa_jj) January 29, 2019

The hashtag made rounds on social media in various languages including in Arabic #كلنا_مريم, Turkish #HepimizMeryem and Malay #KitaSemuaMaryam.

We all always support Palestinian women.#کلنا_مریم#WeAreAllMary pic.twitter.com/2WPhVUaW0B

— مِـشْکـٰاتـــــ (@__Meshkat__) January 31, 2019

We support the project of the #WeAreAllMary have started to support the brave women of Jerusalem as @TRturkab. #HepimizMeryemiz pic.twitter.com/WrXoEoQEXi

— TÜRKAB 🇹🇷 (@TRturkab) January 28, 2019

We uphold and stand our solidarity towards the Liberation of alQuds & Palestine. Be with us & support #WeAreAllMary #KitaSemuaMaryam #كلنا_مريم campaign. Do follow us- https://t.co/71pLRVyw1G@abimalaysia @gpmhq pic.twitter.com/muSrVkLqVG

— Maria K (@mariasrikandi) January 29, 2019

The campaign has helped bring to life the Jerusalemite woman, raising awareness of individual stories and achievements:

Samah Jabr

#WeAreAllMary pic.twitter.com/o99KTKtAUb

— We are all Mary (@weareallmary) January 28, 2019

Lina Al-Jarbouni

#WeAreAllMary pic.twitter.com/bnMAxSCu9e

— We are all Mary (@weareallmary) January 28, 2019

Fatima Mohammad Bernawi

#WeAreAllMary pic.twitter.com/dbeJjUJexq

— We are all Mary (@weareallmary) January 28, 2019

Shireen Issawi

#WeAreAllMary pic.twitter.com/vWaCPFJ7e8

— We are all Mary (@weareallmary) January 28, 2019

And many more

Another Mary died.. #WeAreAllMary #GroupPalestine #BDS #قروب_فلسطيني 🇵🇸🇵🇸💕💔 pic.twitter.com/qjk8nVUXYR

— mina (@pasta_for_peace) January 30, 2019