ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Yezidi Nadia Murad and renowned gynecologist Denis Mukwege were named as Nobel Peace Prize recipients for 2018 on Friday.
"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace for 2018 to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict," announced Berit Reiss Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.
Murad is a native of Kocho in Shingal. She, like many Yezidis, was kidnapped, raped, and held as a sex slave by ISIS in 2014. Since that time, Murad has raised global awareness of the genocide committed by ISIS against the Yezidis. Her only return home was in June of 2017.
“I share this award with all Yezidis, Iraqis, Kurds, other persecuted minorities and all of the countless victims of sexual violence around the world," Murad said in a statement.
"Many Yezidis will look upon thie prize and think of family members that were lost, are still unaccounted for, and of the 1,300 women and children, which remain in captivity," she wrote, turning personal to think of her own family members killed by ISIS.
"I think of my mother, who was murdered by Daesh [ISIS], the children with whom I grew up, and what we must do to honor them. Persecution of minorities must end," she said, demanding enhanced commitments to aiding survivors of genocide.
"We must not only imagine a better future for women, children and persecuted minorities, we must work consistently to make it happen - prioritizing humanity, not war," she said.
ISIS militants invaded the Yezidi city of Shingal and its surrounding villages on August 3, 2014. They killed hundreds of men, women, and children and took thousands others captive. Many were later sold as sex slaves and servants.
The Yezidi homeland of Shingal remains a disputed or Kurdistani area claimed by both Baghdad and Erbil more than four years afterwards.
Acccording to Khairi Bozani, the Yezidi representative to the KRG’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, 1,193 individuals were slaughtered on the first day of the ISIS attack alone.
More than 1,100 Yezidis, mostly women and young girls, are still missing.
Nadia Murad, awarded the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. She has shown uncommon courage in recounting her own sufferings and speaking up on behalf of other victims.#NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/NeF70ig09J
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 5, 2018
Mukwege is known for treating victims of rape who were used as a weapon of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“Sexual violence is equal everywhere,” he said in an interview with Rudaw English in July while visiting the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege is the helper who has devoted his life to defending victims of war-time sexual violence. Fellow laureate Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others. #NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/MY6IdYWN1e
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 5, 2018
He received the news of the honour while he was in the middle of surgery at his hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“This award will have real meaning only if it helps mobilize people to change the situation of victims in areas of armed conflict,” he said in published statement, dedicating the award to women around the world who have suffer from conflict and violence every day.
“To the survivors from all over the world, I would like to tell you that through this prize, the world is listening to you and refusing to remain indifferent. The world refuses to sit idly in the face of your suffering,” he said, adding that the “survival of humanity depends on you.”
He also shared kind words for his co-recipient Murad.
“Nadia Murad is a person for whom I have a great deal of respect because her courage and strength in denouncing this barbarity in conflicts, which goes well beyond anything that one can imagine.”
Outpouring of congratulations
The Kurdistan Regional Government extended its congratulations to the UN Goodwill Ambassador.
بهبۆنهى بهدهستهێنانى خهڵاتى نۆبڵى ئاشتییهوه، پڕ به دڵ پیرۆزبایى له خاتوو نادیا موراد دهكهینhttps://t.co/8b18d2yxDw
— Nechirvan Barzani (@PMBarzani) October 5, 2018
"We wholeheartedly congratulate Ms. Nadia Murad on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize," tweeted KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani.
Barzani urged the people of Kurdistan to be proud of Murad.
“Just as her work and activities always made us happy and proud, and Ms. Nadia receiving the Nobel Peace Prize is reason for us to be happy and proud, and all of the people of Kurdistan,” he continued in a statement.
The prime minister hoped the award may consul the events “Yezidi brothers and sisters” have survived.
“We hope this prize may provide some consolation to Ms. Nadia for all the plight and pain that has befallen her family, and to provide consolation to the Yezidi brothers and sisters for the catastrophe that befell them because this prize isn’t only for one person; rather, it is for the steadfastness and sacrifices of Yezidis and all the people of Kurdistan,” he added.
Barzani said the Kurdistan Region wishes her success.
Jan Kubis, the head of the UN's office in Iraq, described the prize honouring Murad as a "tribute not only to victims of Da'esh [ISIS] atrocities in her Yazidi community but also to all victims of sexual violence in conflict, Iraq and worldwide."
"Her resilience and that of her Yazidi community and Iraqis at large was instrumental in the ultimate victory against Da'esh last year," Kubis added.
Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Jan Egeland commended the choices calling them the best "in a long time."
The best Nobel Prize in a long time. Finally focus on horrific & widespread sexual violence in war. Must lead to action against impunity for perpetrators & preventive action within armies & militias. It is ten years since I fist proposed heroic Mukwege for Nobel Prize. https://t.co/fOpphHFdYs
— Jan Egeland (@NRC_Egeland) October 5, 2018
The NRC, as one of the largest international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in Iraq, has provided aid and services to hundreds of thousands displaced Yezidis in the Kurdistan Region.
The Iraqi government expressed its "deepest respect" to Murad.
Our deepest respect to @NadiaMuradBasee who was awarded the 2018 #NobelPeacePrize for her courageous campaigning on behalf of victims of sexual violence during conflict
— Government of Iraq (@IraqiGovt) October 5, 2018
Baghdad vowed to support victims of sexual violence and "delivering meaningful justice to survivors."
Outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi also congratulated Murad.
“I congratulate the Iraqi Nadia Murad on the Nobel Peace Prize," he said in a brief statement.
New Iraqi President Barham Salih, a Kurd, stated he received the news with the “utmost happiness.”
“It makes me and every individual Kurd happy and blissful that a steadfast and capable woman like you has been awarded this prize and have been given the honor of being the first Kurd and the second youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize,” he wrote of the 25-year-old.
Just spoke to @NadiaMuradBasee to offer congratulations on wining Nobel Peace Prize; acknowledgment of tragic plight of Ezidis, recognition for her courage in defending human rights of victims of terror & sexual violence— honor for all Iraqis who fought terrorism & bigotry pic.twitter.com/PCahUVtGkn
— Barham Salih (@BarhamSalih) October 5, 2018
Salih said the entire “Kurdish nation” is supporting Murad’s efforts.
Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi said the honour given to Murad is a “real and realistic recognition of the sacrifices Iraq has and is giving on behalf of the world.”
He described Murad as an “icon for patience, sacrifice and bravery, and one of the symbols of rejecting oppression and tyranny.”
He said that all of Iraqi must do “serious and dedicated work to erase the repercussions and remnants of such crimes and strengthen the social fabric.”
The legislature he helms will do its part by passing necessary laws, he added.
It was in the Iraqi legislature in August 2014 that former Yezidi MP Vian Dakhil drew international attention to the genocide with a tearful demand the government take action.
Reacting to the news today, Dakhil hailed Murad’s bravery.
“Through her bravery and tragedy, she defeated the logic of oppression, tyranny and slavery, and proved to the entire world that the desire for life and peace is above the barbarity of terror and extremist thoughts. One thousand congratulations to dear Nadia Murad for winning the Nobel Peace Prize,” Dakhil tweeted.
You, for us and the entirety of the Kurdish nation, have been the example of steadfastness and countering the extremist thought, and you have worked in this field with your utmost efforts ... You are the symbol of Kurdish girls and women, and the symbol of every Kurd’s steadfastness,” he added.
The spokesman for the US-led international anti-ISIS coalition, US Army Col. Sean Ryan, called her story "inspirational."
Nadia Murad, a Yazidi woman from the Iraqi town of Sinjar, held by ISIS, and courageously lived to tell her story, and was named a 2018 #nobelpeaceprize recipient. No award can take away the pain she endured but her story is an inspirational. @NadiaMuradPeace pic.twitter.com/lPD7Xrc42E
— OIR Spokesman (@OIRSpox) October 5, 2018
The Yezidi INGO Yazda congratulated Mukwege and commended his character when the organization's co-founder Murad Ismael met him in June.
We received Dr. Mukwege @DenisMukwege last June in Iraq and learned about him closely and the exceptionality of his character. We congratulate Dr. Mukwege for his service to humanity and for Nobel Peace Prize. @MukwegeFound pic.twitter.com/kiOFywyfxD
— Yazda (@YazdaOrg) October 5, 2018
This is a developing story... Updated at 7:41 p.m.
