ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Nadia Murad Basee Taha, whose story of the Yezidi genocide reached capitals across the world, got engaged to fellow activist and Yezidi Abid Shamdeen in Germany on Sunday.
Both are from the Shingal region. Shamdeen works for Yazda, a US-based NGO that is active in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. He also works with Nadia's Initiative, which was started by Murad to establish stability for the Shingal region.
"Yesterday was the big day for @NadiaMuradBasee & I. We met during very difficult times in both our lives but we managed to find love while fighting a huge fight. Thank you for all the great wishes everyone," tweeted Shamdeen on Monday.
Yesterday was the big day for @NadiaMuradBasee & I. We met during very difficult times in both our lives but we managed to find love while fighting a huge fight. Thank you for all the great wishes everyone. pic.twitter.com/ocbCKeUS0a
— Abid Shamdeen (@AbidShamdeen) August 20, 2018
Murad, born in 1993, confirmed the union.
"Yesterday was a special day for @AbidShamdeen & I. We are very thankful and humbled for all the wishes & support from our family & friends. The struggle of our people brought us together & we will continue this path together. Thank you for your support everyone!" she tweeted on Monday.
Yesterday was a special day for @AbidShamdeen & I. We are very thankful and humbled for all the wishes & support from our family & friends. The struggle of our people brought us together & we will continue this path together. Thank you for your support everyone! pic.twitter.com/MpeEOGguGK
— Nadia Murad (@NadiaMuradBasee) August 20, 2018
Murad lives in Germany, but often travels advocating for Yezidis and Shingal as a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking.
Four years ago, ISIS took control of Shingal the homeland of the Yezidis, an ethno-religious group from the northwest of Mosul.
An estimated 2,500 to 5,000 Yezidis were killed by ISIS when the group took control of Shingal in 2014 in a campaign of genocide. A documented 6,417 Yezidis were taken capture, including Murad. Just 3,255 have been freed.
Nadia Murad and Abid Shamdeen pose for a wedding photo. Photo: Shamdeen FB
Murad's story of survival resonated around the globe. The Kurdistan Regional Government was the first to recognize the attack as genocide.
Hundreds of thousands of Yezidis remain displaced from Shingal, which lies in ruins and is yet to be rebuilt by the KRG, Iraqi government, or international bodies.
