UC Law student aims to raise awareness of human rights in Middle East
Before attending the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Nawfal Ali Aljabali had already worked to fight for human rights in the Middle East. Finding the work fulfilling, he knew he wanted to continue in this area. Aljabali chose to continue his education at UC Law so he could do more with his law degree, both in the United States and back home in Yemen.
“My interest in law started with an interest in reading books and in human rights,” he recalls. Aljabali has a certificate as a human rights defender from Amnesty International. While studying for his bachelor’s degree in Islamic Law in Saudi Arabia, Aljabali would travel between Yemen and Saudi Arabia every six months. “I tried to spread knowledge about the importance of human rights and children’s rights especially,” he says, “because a lot of children in Yemen work or fight for religious groups. They don’t study or go to school.
“I want to work in the field of law because the situation in Yemen is miserable,” he says. In the Middle East, where there are many challenges related to human rights, he knows there is a lot of positive work to do, and subsequently a lot he can do.
Aljabali wants to continue to raise awareness about human rights and hopes that education can lead to a brighter future. “Education is the best investment” he recalls. He is also invested in protecting the students he meets from dangerous situations. “I’ve tried to save some students and children,” he recalls, “in school during the war, when I would move them from the war region to safe places.”
When Aljabali moved to the U.S., he decided to take advantage of the educational opportunities here instead of just working and making money. “I wanted to study something I was passionate about, so I could do something positive for the Yemeni community, either in the U.S. or back in the Middle East.”
After he attains his LLM degree, Aljabali hopes to work with human rights organizations like Amnesty International; but if those opportunities are unavailable, he will continue to spread awareness by himself. He currently shares informational and educational posts on social media that raise awareness and emphasize the importance of education, human rights, and peace. “And if the opportunity presents itself,” he says, “I might continue my education and study for a PhD in law.”
My interest in law started with an interest in human rights.
Nawfal Aljabali
Classes and COVID-19
Aljabali currently resides in Michigan. He chose UC Law because the online class structure, particularly in COVID-19 challenges, better fit his needs. Although virtual classes have been difficult at times, he thinks it’s nice that he’s been able to record classes, which he uses to review the lectures and discussions “Everything has positives and negatives,” he says, “and with COVID-19, everything is different. But that being said, I have still had a great experience with the law school.”
Additionally, studying law in America is different from studying in Yemen. In the U.S., students study law by reviewing and discussing cases; in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, students study laws and then apply those laws to cases. “It can be difficult because the language of the cases can be high sometimes,” he says, “but I enjoy these challenges.” And though it can be frustrating at times, Aljabali embraces the challenge because he recognizes the good work he can do once he graduates. “Every day,” he says, “I learn new things. I think that’s the most beautiful thing.”
COVID-19 also impacted his travel plans, and thus, he couldn’t travel to Yemen this past summer. However, this situation has presented opportunities for learning and exploring other areas. He has volunteered as translator for TED Talks and has translated over 200 videos; almost 100 of them have been approved for viewing. “I’ve also started exercising in my home too,” he says with a smile.
Related Stories
UC joins as partner in prestigious Kern Entrepreneurial...
October 31, 2024
The University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science is a new partner with the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network, a coalition dedicated to equipping engineering students with an entrepreneurial mindset. This collaboration, supported by the Kern Family Foundation, empowers engineering programs to inspire curiosity, connections, and value creation in their graduates, preparing them to address real-world challenges with innovative solutions.
DAAP students learn design accessibility through a new lens
October 31, 2024
Stevie Famulari, a visiting professor in horticulture and landscape architecture at UC, teaches students to immerse themselves in design processes. Famulari learned ways to educate students on the sensitivity of design while in graduate school and brings those lessons to academic intuitions across the country.
The debate over the death penalty
October 30, 2024
WVXU Cincinnati Edition host Lucy May Interviewers Pierce Reed, director of policy and engagement for the Ohio Innocence Project at UC Law as part of a discussion on the death penalty. UC Law will host a Nov. 1 roundtable on the topic featuring former Ohio death row inmate Lamont Hunter, his attorney Erin Gallagher Barnhart,an assistant federal public defender and Dr. Robert J. Norris, a criminologist at George Mason University.