'Strong, determined, and resilient'
Nadia Murad, Yazidi Nobel laureate, graduates from American University in Washington
NEWSROOM — Nadia Murad, an ISIS survivor from Sinjar and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has completed her studies at American University in Washington, D.C., earning a degree in Sociology.
The graduation ceremony took place on May 12, marking the culmination of her academic journey in the United States.
“Despite facing unimaginable challenges, my determination to pursue my studies never wavered,” she said in a post to Instagram. “Balancing activism work and full-time studies hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth every effort.”
Born in 1993, Murad was abducted by ISIS militants during their 2014 assault on the region. She was held captive for three months, alongside thousands of other Yazidi women and girls and faced violent abuse by the terror group.
Since her escape from captivity, Murad has been vocal in sharing her experiences and those of other women subjected to violence and exploitation.
“Today is a day to celebrate my accomplishments and remember my beloved mother and all the women of my village who made me strong, determined, and resilient,” she added.
In 2016, she was appointed as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, and in 2018, she received the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Denis Mukwege for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.
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