Photo: Getty Images
Dear Activist:
Noor was a typical 15-year-old girl. Like many girls her age, she enjoyed going to school and spending time with her friends. But her whole world changed forever when ISIL invaded her town in northern Iraq.
ISIL militias went door to door, rounding up men and boys, and abducting and raping girls. Noor was ripped from her family and sold 15 times. She was passed from one ISIL fighter to the next, and each time, she was raped. Luckily, Noor managed to escape her captors and make her way to a refugee camp. There, she met Yanar Mohammed - the director of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) - the group we are partnering with to help these girls.
What happened to Noor was no accident. It was part of a deliberate strategy by ISIL to terrorize and prey on the most vulnerable — especially young girls.
We are horrified that the US invasion of Iraq unleashed a wave of sectarianism that paved the way for the rise of ISIL. In response, CODEPINK has teamed up with MADRE and local partners in Iraq to open a brand new shelter and rape crisis center where these young women will find safe haven, urgent care, and lasting support to rebuild their lives.
We are committed to raising $10,000 by the International Day of the Girl on October 11th. Can you help us reach this goal?
Noor is now secure and is slowly beginning to heal from her trauma. But she’s one of the lucky ones. Please help protect even more young girls like Noor with a gift today. You can read more about the center and its goals on our website.
While we are determined to help ISIL’s female victims, we also have to address the broader violence in Syria and Iraq that has left hundreds of thousands dead and created millions of refugees.
This week we have seen some positive movement at the UN--and in the US Congress--to press for a political solution. President Obama has expressed a willingness to work with both Russia and Iran. 54 members of congress have cosigned a letter by Rep. Jim Himes (D- CT) asking President Obama to support international negotiations to defeat ISIL, stabilize Syria, and allow the refugees to return home.
As we support efforts for a negotiated solution in both Syria and Iraq, let us not forget the girls like Noor who have been victimized by ISIL. Please donate today!
Thank you for taking a stand for peace during this tumultuous time.
Onward,
Alli, Ariel, Chelsea, Janet, Janna, Jodie, Lisa, Medea, Michaela, Michelle, Nancy and Tighe
