This year, the European Parliament bestowed its top honor, the Sakharav Prize for Freedom of Thought, on two young Iraqis, Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar, both ethnic Yazidis, saying that they were a symbol of incredible bravery and humanity in the face of the despicable brutality of ISIS. “Their courage in the face of the violence to which they were subjected is an encouragement to all of us to not be afraid,” said Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament. “After personally experiencing unprecedented atrocities,” he continued. “these young women began a long journey to Europe, where they hoped to find refuge and protection. It is now our duty to support them so as to ensure that their courage in denouncing the barbaric tactics of ISIS does not make them the target of further violence.”
The girls’ calvary began on 3 August 2014, when ISIS troops overran their hometown of Kocho, Iraq. The jihadists killed all the males in the village, then kidnapped, sexually abused and enslaved the women and girls. Ms. Murad and Ms. Bashar managed to escape after several months and make the harrowing journey to Europe. They have now become advocates for female victims of the ISIS terrorist campaign.