Rahaf Mohammed's 7 Lessons: Including for Security Experts

▼Advanced Personal Leadership Series X18▼Breakthrough Ideas for January 2019 | Images Hyperlinked

MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS | 2019 EDITION | VOLUME 10

 

 

Originally published in 2019, this is one of many reasons why as a security tech minimalist, I've always warned against assuming tech is the solution to all security problems.

 

 

Journalists focus on the story. Technologists often overemphasize tech. The worst breed — snobbish security “experts” or pros — wouldn't have even given Rahaf a chance. Yet, security tech minimalists operate the way Rahaf did.

 

 

Responding last year to a friend who refused to intervene in a matter she labelled a family dispute, I put it to her in email that: Labels are comforting. But not everything is a family dispute.

 

 

People will tell you what they need. And if you're listening and genuinely WANT to be part of the solution, take action that in most cases costs you nothing, that decision enhances your perception and risk maturity, in this case. Indeed, and an invaluable opportunity to grow, or witness true motives, character and potential of those requesting the help, whatever it is.

 

 

The Thai government, which initially labeled the case “a family problem” has since signaled a new policy to “now follow international norms.”

 

 

Not at all surprising as one saw in the initial powerful images, a certain admiration and intellectual, if not humanitarian evolution, in the eyes of Thai immigration officials.

 

 

I suspect my friend has also since learned a great deal from Rahaf Mohammed. But understand that her case never had anything to do Western values, democracy, or culture, save a simple observable fact:Human beings are not designed for oppression. Not even by repressive families or regimes.

 

Treat people badly or trample on their innate sense of dignity and you lose them, sooner or later.

 

 

I first stood up for my Human Rights at age 5 in Africa without knowing anything about the United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Bill of Rights, etc. And by the time I was in boarding school, I was disrupting the system and making enemies by refusing collective corporal punishment.

 

 

Intrinsically, I believed my human dignity was non-negotiable. No matter how much power or influence others had over me.

 

 

If I want to eat bacon and drink wine like Rahaf (also a Pisces) is now doing in Canada: Who are you to disallow me, — especially when I'm hurting no one?

 

 

Indeed long before I ever heard of Alice Walker, like Rahaf — I presume — I intuitively knew:In a disturbingly distracted world where people lazily echo peer group views — sometimes, because personal survival is at stake — even the term 'culture' is often misunderstood, when in fact:

 

 

Nobody is born a slave.

And to understand that, is the beginning of being an EVOLVED human being who refuses to tiptoe around any issue of human dignity. From Male Guardianship and Honor Killings, to widespread abuse of women, crimes against humanity, and other long-overdue social reforms in the Muslim world and Middle East in particular, —in the name of 'culture' or non-interference.

 

 

No matter what evil people did throughout history, you won't find single newborn baby, or even animal, labeled: Slave. 

 

 

Which is why I've always regarded phrases such as “born a slave” nonsensical.

 

 

If I'm minding my business, and Hitler takes over my house, community or country like ISIS did the Yazidis and Iraq (where Islamic fundamentalists have since returned to killing and abusing women who want to be free), don't call it culture.

 

 

It is a case of human beings who are NOT EVOLVED projecting depravity, wickedness, oppression, or corruption in the name of religion, leadership, nationalism, patriotism, culture and dictators' favorite recent term: “national security.” That's all.

 

 

Autocracy and tyranny are mad-made cancers. No doubt.

 

 

Kids don't ask to be born.

 

 

So, just because like a sheep or dog, you follow so-called customs, traditions, or simply in having sex casually, bring another human being into this world, doesn't mean she/he is your property or slave. And no millions or billions of oil or other dollars, guns, coercive weapons and instruments, or any amount of 'DISAPPEARING' your fellow human beings, citizens, women, Uyghur, Rohingya, Chinese, (Middle Eastern) princesses, in the name of unjust or arbitrary laws can change that fact.

 

 

And that's what's beautiful about what Rahaf did.

 

 

As I told her on Twitter:

 

 

You haven't lost your family. For TRUE family RESPECTS human dignity.An Algerian woman who was waxing eloquent about how Rahaf was just a clueless rebellious kid in a since deleted tweet went silent after I asked in a strong rebuke that ended with the question and answer:  

 

...And what is family?

 

 

“Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, it's the place where we find the deepest heartache.” Quoting Iyanla Vanzant, as above. 

 

Like a trailblazer, Rahaf came from nowhere and compellingly blasted her way straight into Wikipedia and history pages. 

 

 

Her detractors will cite luck, timing, her father's position as a governor, privilege, etc.

Smarter people will concede that in a world where some of the dumbest people own, yet misuse and underutilize some of the best smartphones, the level of imagination, foresight, critical thinking skills, planning and goal-setting skills, organizational skills, crisis management skills, human relations skills, social media skills, and strategic security and execution skills she displayed (as illustrated above) in leveraging the resources of people, organizations and governments to pull it all off, illustrates top-notch leadership and maturity worth emulating. 

 

What's more, the same detractors need only carefully study HOW Dubai's Princess Latifah failed. 

 

 

As a strategist, it is insight my clients pay a premium for, and which I won't give away in this article. 

 

 

Suffice it to say, Rahaf managed to physically accomplish single-handedly, albeit with leveraged help and forethought, what a much better resourced Latifah failed to. And in so doing, she proved my theorem, that if focus is the new IQ, then strategy execution is the ultimate IQ, while giving the Princess Latifahs an appreciation of how impeccable strategy execution is everything.

In hindsight, some of us celebrated Social Reform in Saudi Arabia too quickly. Nevertheless, those of us who have been debunking mobile security myths were also validated. 

 

That is, by security experts who are teachable. Because, while there are many theories as to what, and ho tipped off the authorities, Princess Latifah's escape, I'd argue, was planned and executed by a security expert who inadvertently failed his client by being only risk intelligent. 

 

There were too many smartphone involved in her escape in a part of the word where repressive regimes invest heavily in countermeasures, at the core of which is mobile phone tracking. 

 

And clearly oblivious how wide open his attack surface was, Princess Latifa's commando ceded the practical advantage of alternative means, while Rahaf's execution involved exploiting smartphones at the right time, as part of an elaborate opportunistic process.

Moreover, for those of us who practice and study holistic security and privacy, this is not a black and white, cut and dried issue. Which is why #iTHiNKLabs Episode #56 puts both issues in context.

 

What matters, for security experts paying attention, is: Are you risk mature enough to know when to fallback on low tech and human firewalls, and as in the case of my China exit (click or tap above), mix it up with closing skills (talk your way out of any crisis like Rahaf did) atop great OPSEC, when necessary? Or geek quad gear is all you know?

Granted, some successes are hard to duplicate. And repressive regimes that weren't doing so before will now seek to preemptively confiscate your phone. Which is why I always advise: 

 

 

It's not the technology you have, but the quality of creativity and seamless adaptability brought to any challenge.

 

 

And to one follower's question:

Whatever you're planning, you'll need specific (cyber, physical and strategic) security insight not covered by my 60+ Survival Tips. Insight I only share in strict confidence. Finally:

Mental strength is absolutely fundamental. 

 

As human and fragile as she is — and her feature interview together with supplemental videos above and below are reminders — this particular young woman, who in disproving a Generation Z myth, proved that one can't be a snowflake if trying to succeed, or escape any oppression or hardship. 

 

If BBC Panorama, the World Service, Princess Latifa Al Maktoum herself, or any vetted individual or party interested in securing her freedom needs my help, sure, I certainly would gladly help.

 

 

For consultation, contact me here. Or, feel free to follow and engage here.

○ ○ ○Reem Suleiman's Story & More ⬆ The Princess Latifa Al Maktoum Saga

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Current Top 20 Most Influential in My Development Series (No. 2: Rahaf)

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