Today’s major challenge facing the Arab world is the increasingly ruthless tyranny, said Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman, stressing that it is time to put an end to despotism. 

Karman said in an interview published by Global Thinkers Forum that tyranny brings poverty, terrorism, backwardness and intolerance, pointing out that tyrants do not fulfill their duties and underestimate the importance of freedom and justice.

"The tyrants are suppressing their opponents and terrorizing people, and this leads to failure at all levels,” she continued. 

Mrs. Karman added, “When I talk about tyranny, I mean political and religious tyranny, as well as military interference in political life.” 

Karman expressed her regret for the Western support provided to the tyranny in the Arab world, noting, "People yearn for freedom and will not accept a return to the pre-Arab Spring."

In response to a question about the long-term impact of the refugee crisis on Western societies, Karman said Western governments' support for authoritarian regimes was behind the massive influx of refugees into Europe.

"Solving the problem of the massive influx of refugees into Europe in isolation from the overthrow of repressive regimes does not seem logical," she emphasized.

"The ambiguous position of Western governments on the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad has caused a great tragedy in Syria," she said, indicating that al-Assad's forces have followed all methods to kill people mercilessly, causing mass exodus of refugees to Europe.

"The solution lies in helping people return to their homeland, and this solution will remain impossible in the presence of al-Assad and tyrants of his ilk."

On the other hand, the Nobel laureate stated that Yemen is going through a very difficult period, pointing out that the Yemeni people yearn to live in peace and sustainable peace, and this will be achieved only by disarming militias, reviving the political process and respecting the rule of law.

Finally, she explained that there is a chance to bring peace to Yemen, provided that weapons should not be outside the state, any political process should exclude nobody and those committing serious violations against Yemenis have to be held accountable.