These days my Twitter feed is bursting with numbers of killings, terrorism and atrocities of the world. Hiwa Osman’s tweet last night made me jump, literally. A light bulb moment, an idea I had not previously thought of but with no doubt agreed to.
He tweeted: @NadiaMuradBasee deserves @NobelPrzie #NobelPrize4Nadia
After all watching her give a speech to the United Nations Security Council gave me goose bumps. As an individual sitting at home, it made me feel inept having done nothing to benefit any of the Yezidi girls who are dying alive everyday.
Malala Yousafzai is an inspiring story, a role model, a true fighter for girl’s education, not only in her home of Pakistan but also across the world. Her story began on October 9, 2012 in a school bus where the Taliban shot her.
Nadia Murad Basee, is no different, but she may have wished to be shot in the head a thousand times and be refused the right to education all her life if only she was not raped continuously for three months.
Nadia, 21, is a voice to thousands of silenced Yezidi girls. She speaks on the right to life, the right to live in peace, the right for girls not be used as sex slaves, as merchandise, as presents in the hands of men looking like “big monsters”.
She openly and innocently tells her ordeal including a gang rape by Daesh militants. Her story began on August 3, 2014 and lasted for an entire three months.
Today, if the Taliban catch Malala, she will most likely be shot another few times. Shot in ways where they will make sure she will not die in order for her to bear unbearable pain.
Likewise, if a Daesh militant lays hands on Nadia Murad, this time she will not be raped till she passes out. Physical assault and gang rape will continue till her death, it will be her reward for speaking out.
Both girls recognize this. In fact, they know it very well, but they couldn’t care less. What Malala and Nadia have in common is courage; the courage to speak and stand up for others who are encountering the same experiences, but are left silent.
For Nadia, who comes from a conservative, humble background to stand up, face the world and tell her story of gang rape, sexual harassments and torture sheds light on the atrocities of ISIS and on the endangered lives of many other Yezidi girls and women.
Alfred Nobel maintained his prizes to those who :“shall have conferred the greatest benefit to mankind."
At a time when ISIS is a threat to every person in every corner of this planet, if Nadia Murad Basee is not a suitable Nobel Peace Prize candidate, I don’t know who is.
If Nobel himself was alive he would grant the prize to Nadia, because what is a greater benefit to mankind than protection and speaking out for enslaved girls and women.
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