Majd Izzat al-Chourbaji

Majd Izzat al-Chourbaji () (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.https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/05/state-department-honors-international-women-of-courage

 Life 

Madj Izzat al-Chourbaji was born in 1981 in the town of Darayya, Syria.  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. 

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. She started classes on peace and citizenship for the prisoners.  Majd persuaded 150 women prisoners to have a hunger strike. She wanted to go to court to get publicity for the women's problems. 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 with her three children. 

 References  

 Other websites 

 2015 International Women of Courage Awards, U.S. State Department photostream on Flickr 
 Secretary's International Women of Courage Award (U.S. Department of State)

Category:Women who received the International Women of Courage Award
Category:Syrian activists
Category:1981 births
Category:Living people