Rebecca Lowe

Rebecca Lowe is a British journalist who writes about human rights and the Middle East. She is best known for her travel book, The Slow Road to Tehran, shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year Award 2023

Rebecca Lowe was born and raised in the United Kingdom. She attended Cambridge University, where she obtained an MA in English Literature. Rebecca also was awarded the Cambridge University Hunter Senior Scholarship. She later pursued an MA in Journalism at Stanford University.

Rebecca has worked as a freelance journalist in London, contributing to publications such as the Guardian, BBC, Evening Standard, Independent, Economist, Sunday Times Magazine, Daily Mail, Huffington Post, and IranWire. She was previously the lead reporter at the International Bar Association, focusing on human rights and the rule of law, particularly during the Arab Spring.

From 2010 to 2015, Rebecca served as the chief reporter at the International Bar Association. She specialized in long-form features, filmed interviews, and mini-documentaries on human rights issues. During this time, she conducted one-on-one interviews with prominent figures such as Nobel laureates Aung San Suu Kyi and Shirin Ebadi, UK Supreme Court justice Lady Hale, former President of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, and Transparency International Chair Jose Ugaz.

In 2013 and 2014, Rebecca was shortlisted and highly commended in the Bar Council's Legal Reporting Awards for her articles on banking abuses and international sanctions. She has also written for numerous sports and travel magazines.

Rebecca's career took a unique turn in 2015 when she embarked on an 11,000km solo bicycle ride from London to Tehran. This journey, spanning 20 countries, was aimed at challenging preconceptions about the Middle East and demonstrating that a woman could cycle safely through the region. Her experiences during this journey led to the publication of her book, The Slow Road to Tehran.

The Slow Road to Tehran (2022) is a travel memoir that chronicles Rebecca's adventures as she cycled through Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Oman, the UAE, and Iran. The book offers insights into the cultures and daily lives of the people she encountered, challenging many Western assumptions about the Muslim world. Rebecca shared, "I never set off with the intention to write anything more than articles and blogs."

In addition to her writing, Rebecca has directed a documentary on military impunity for human rights abuses in Myanmar. With a specific interest in the Middle East, her work remains focused on human rights.

Rebecca Lowe resides in London.

Photo credit: rebecca-lowe.com