Iraq nominates Yezidi woman Nadia Murad for Nobel prize
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Nadia Murad, a Yezidi woman who escaped the clutches of Islamic State (ISIS) militants and went on to highlight the plight of women kidnapped and enslaved by the group, was officially nominated by Iraq on Tuesday for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"We are proud of nominating this Iraqi girl to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and we ask the public opinion and associated organizations to support her because she deserves to win,” the Iraqi government said in a statement announcing the nomination.
“She is the symbol of women’s struggle against the dark forces aiming to degrade women,” read the statement. "Nadia talked about the plight of Yezidi women abducted by ISIS, and she asked the international community to rescue a record number of 3,400 Yezidi girls and women from the hands of ISIS," it added.
Murad was kidnapped by ISIS along with thousands of other girls and women, when the predominantly Yezidi city of Shingal fell to ISIS in August 2014. She has traveled around the world to shed light on ISIS atrocities against the Yezidi religious minority.
Murad delivered her personal story at the UN Security Council last December.
"We are proud of nominating this Iraqi girl to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and we ask the public opinion and associated organizations to support her because she deserves to win,” the Iraqi government said in a statement announcing the nomination.
“She is the symbol of women’s struggle against the dark forces aiming to degrade women,” read the statement. "Nadia talked about the plight of Yezidi women abducted by ISIS, and she asked the international community to rescue a record number of 3,400 Yezidi girls and women from the hands of ISIS," it added.
Murad was kidnapped by ISIS along with thousands of other girls and women, when the predominantly Yezidi city of Shingal fell to ISIS in August 2014. She has traveled around the world to shed light on ISIS atrocities against the Yezidi religious minority.
Murad delivered her personal story at the UN Security Council last December.