Nadia Murad

Murad speaking to the UN Security Council. (http://www.independent.co.uk ())

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear" ("Nelson"). This quote from Nelson Mandela's autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, not only defines courage, but also the persona of Nadia Murad, a human rights activist. Thousands of Yazidi women, including Murad, were captured from Murad's village, Kocho, subjected to inhumane punishments, and given a choice of conversion to Islam, or death (Nadia's Initiative.). The men in her village, many members of her family, were all killed on the spot the very same day ("BBC HARDtalk"). Recently escaping from the abuse she underwent with ISIS, she now travels the world, trying to raise awareness towards the discrimination of her religion ("Nadia Murad"). Nadia Murad cares deeply about the Yazidi community, and continues to fight for the thousands still in captivity. Despite her troubled past and healing soul, she powers through, with the goal of a free Yazidi community motivating her. Because of the bravery shown throughout her struggles with ISIS and her passion for justice and equality, Nadia Murad is a hero.

Lawyer, Amal Clooney, with Murad, her client. (http://www.nadiamurad.org ())

Despite the constant discrimination towards her religion, and the unspeakable things she has had to go through, Murad still speaks up and tells her story, making her courageous. One of Murad's horrid memories is, "Nadia suffered the loss of six of her nine brothers who were slaughtered by ISIS in the Kocho massacre. Thousands of Yazidi men and older Yazidi women were murdered including Nadia's mother" (Nadia's Initiative.). Murad had to lose many members of her family, as well as fellow Yazidis, all at once. One must be incredibly brave to experience and share this kind of pain. This time in Murad's life would be severely difficult for anyone going through it: "She said, 'I did not want to kill myself--but I wanted them to kill me.' One of the ISIS fighters held Murad captive. He kept her in a single room for months at a time while starving and torturing her. She tried to escape but was caught and harshly punished" ("Nadia Murad."). The fact that Murad had to endure such inhumane acts for such a long period of time, shows incredible courage. She not only was a victim of numerous amounts of assault, but was brought to the point of incredibly dark thoughts. But those thoughts would soon have a purpose:

Ms. Murad said she was exhausted by having to repeatedly speak out about what she has

survived. But she also said she knew that other Yazidi women were being raped back

home even as she spoke: "I will go back to my life when women in captivity go back to

their lives, when my community has a place, when I see people accountable for their

crimes." (qtd. in Chan and Sengupta)

Murad selflessly shares her story, with the goal of freeing the Yazidi community still in captivity, and bringing their captors to justice. Though the tough tale gets exhausting to tell, Murad shares it anyway, thinking of the countless numbers of women enduring what she has had to go through. Murad's strong spirit and the selfless mindset that powers her through tough times, are a few accounts of her immense courage.

Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar win Sakharov Prize. (http://www.mirror.co.uk ())

Murad's active participation in the seemingly never-ending fight for equality makes her strong-willed. In an interview with Murad herself, she describes her progress in making a change:

[translated] I've met members of parliaments and world leaders. I have said to them

what I'm saying to you now. I tell them my story and what I've been through. Everyone

knows what Daesh is. They listen to me carefully, but they don't make any promises.

They say they will look at the issue and see what they can do but so far nothing has

happened. The situation is urgent and should be addressed immediately. Millions of

people are waiting for a solution, for Daesh to be destroyed. The situation is urgent and

requires action within hours. ("BBC HARDtalk")

Murad discusses the frustration she has, having to repeat her message over and over again, but having no one do anything about it. She mentions the severe urgency of the Yazidis' situation and that millions of people are being affected by this. This quote shows how persistent she must be, for continuing to say something, even though the odds seem against her. Murad shares as to why she presses on, and what her idea of a happy ending is:

"I was not raised to give speeches," she said. "Neither was I born to meet world leaders,

nor to represent a cause so heavy, so difficult," she said. But she would continue "so that one day we can look our abusers in the eye in a court in The Hague and tell the world what they have done to us," she said. "So my community can heal. So I can be the last girl to come before you." (qtd. in Chan and Sengupta)

Murad admits that she is not meant to be doing what she does, and that her cause is a dark and heavy one. But she also mentions her end goal: to bring justice the ones who discriminate against her and her people. This determination she has is prominent, and highlights her strong-willed attitude. The persistence Murad holds and her desire for justice make her the steadfast person she is.

Murad visits refugee camp in the village, Idomeni. (http://www.nadiamurad.org ())

Nadia Murad displays heroism through her strength and desire for justice. She doesn't let the past stop her from helping the ones she holds dear, determined to make a mark on the world. Murad serves as an inspiration for all because of the empowerment and hope she gives to Yazidis, and all affected by ISIS. Another Yazidi activist explains Murad's inspiring qualities, sharing her thoughts on Murad's Nobel Prize nomination:

"I was watching it live, and I am so, so happy," said Amena Saeed, a Yazidi activist and a

former member of the Iraqi Parliament who has dedicated the last two years to trying to

smuggle women out of ISIS captivity. "Nadia -- she is a victim, so when the international

community gives this to a survivor, what it means is that they feel with us," she said. "They are sharing our suffering." (qtd. in Chan and Sengupta)

These words show how Nadia has touched many lives. She gives the Yazidi community a voice, helping their situation gain empathy and support. Nadia Murad inspires me not only because of her accomplishments as an activist, but also the drive she has to accomplish them. It isn't an absence of fear that makes her a hero, but the power she possesses to triumph over it.

Works Cited

"BBC HARDtalk - Nadia Murad Interviewed by Sarah Montague - 2016." YouTube, YouTube,

10 Mar. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=seax37UoECg.

Chan, Sewell, and Somini Sengupta. "Woman Who Escaped Islamic State Captivity Wins

Human Rights Prize." New York Times, 11 Oct. 2016, p. A5(L). Biography in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A466130777/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=d99628cd.

"Nadia Murad." Gale Biography in Context, Gale, 2016. Biography in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1650010310/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=f72f586e.

Nadia's Initiative. Nadia Murad, http://www.nadiamurad.org/.

"Nelson Mandela Quotes." BrainyQuote, Xplore,

www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/nelsonmand178789.html.