Majd Izzat al-Chourbaji
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Majd Izzat al-Chourbaji (Arabic: مجد عزت الشربجي )(born 1981) is a Syrian peace activist. In 2015, she received the U.S. State Department's International Women of Courage Award, for her work with women and human rights in Syria.[1][2]
Life
Madj Izzat al-Chourbaji was born in 1981 in the town of Darayya, Syria. [3] When she was six months old, her family went to France because of violence in Syria. They returned to Syria in 1991. In Syria, Majd studied French literature. She received a degree from Damascus University. After college, Majd worked on an anti-corruption program in the Damascus suburbs. [4]
When the violence from the Arab Spring came to Syria, Majd started sit-ins for the freedom of political prisoners. She went to jail, and was injured by the police. Although Mjad was hurt, she wanted peaceful protest.[4] She started classes on peace and citizenship for the prisoners. [1][5] Majd persuaded 150 women prisoners to have a hunger strike. She wanted to go to court to get publicity for the women's problems. [4] Finally, she went to court. Majd and 83 prisoners received their freedom, in a prisoner exchange with the Syrian opposition. The Syrian security forces continued to watch Majd, so she went to Lebanon [1]with her three children. [4][6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Biographies of 2015 Award Winners".
- ↑ https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/05/state-department-honors-international-women-of-courage
- ↑ Kenasari, M. Bilal (7 March 2015). Syrian activist receives International Women of Courage Award. Anadolu Agency. http://www.aa.com.tr/en/rss/475112--syrian-activist-receives-international-women-of-courage-award. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Basu, Rekha (March 11, 2015). Celebrate her courage, honor her pain. Des Moines, Iowa: The Des Moines Register. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/rekha-basu/2015/03/11/syrian-protesters-celebrate-courage-honor-pain/24745315/. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ↑ "2015 International Women of Courage Award Winners - International Women of Courage Celebration". Archived from the original on 2017-03-27. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
- ↑ "AWIU » 2015 IWOC Awardees". Archived from the original on 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2017-02-13.