Karman is a journalist. She is also politician and senior member of the of Al-Islah political party. She is also works to improve human rights. She is one of the people who started the group "Women Journalists Without Chains". She became well known in Yemen after 2005. As a journalist, she helped a mobile phone news service after the government did not give them a license. She led protests for press freedom and organized weekly protests for reform. She lead the Yemini protests to support the Arab Spring after the Tunisian people overthrew the government of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011. She has opposed President Ali Abdullah Saleh and thinks he should not be president any longer.