Qadiri's experience of having her civil rights violated came from living in Kuwait during its invasion by Iraqi forces in 1990. It wasn't until she attended college that she moved to the United States. As she discussed how she viewed the nation before she relocated there, "I thought America was kind of like "Saved By The Bell" and "Fresh Prince of Bel Air". I'd never set foot there before going to college, and my perception of it was very far removed from the truth, you know? I was just consuming American TV shows like any other kid around the world, thinking, "Oh, it looks so cute." In terms of experience in protesting, Qadiri was at a counterdemonstration at a 1999 IMF World Bank meeting: "I have never seen more cops in my entire life. There were cops on horses, on bicycles, on bikes, in cars, and helicopters. I had a very rude awakening; the illusions of American democracy were destroyed almost immediately." She was also involved in the New York City protests against the 2003 invasion of Iraq.