Overview

Nadia Murad (Arabic: نادية مراد, born 1993) is an Iraqi Yazidi human rights advocate based in Germany. She became a prominent international voice after surviving captivity by the militant group Islamic State (ISIS). Since her escape she has worked to draw attention to wartime sexual violence, the fate of religious minorities, and the recovery of communities affected by mass atrocities.

Early life and abduction

Murad was born into a Yazidi community in northern Iraq. In 2014, during an assault on her hometown region, she and many others were abducted. She spent months in captivity before escaping. Her personal account of those events and their aftermath has been widely reported and she later described her experience in a memoir.

Activism and Nadia's Initiative

After relocating to Europe, Murad turned to public advocacy. She founded Nadia's Initiative to support survivors and to promote reconstruction, social services and documentation of crimes. The organization focuses on helping women, children and communities recover from violence and displacement.

  • Advocacy for recognition of atrocities against Yazidis as genocide.
  • Support for survivor services, mental health and rebuilding local infrastructure.
  • Efforts to document abuses and encourage legal and policy responses.

Recognition and public impact

In 2018 Murad and Congolese physician Denis Mukwege were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. She is widely cited as the first Iraqi Nobel laureate. Murad has addressed international bodies and courts, calling for accountability, better protection for minorities, and stronger measures to prevent trafficking.

Legacy and ongoing work

Murad's prominence has helped raise global awareness of sexual violence in conflict and the particular risks faced by minority communities. Her efforts combine survivor testimony, humanitarian support and political lobbying to seek reparations and lasting protection for vulnerable groups. For further background on her life and advocacy see additional profiles and reports linked here: biographical resources, documentation of the militant campaign she survived at reports on ISIS, and information about international responses including the Nobel citation and related materials at award summaries.

Note: Murad's story is part of ongoing discussions about justice, reconstruction and survivor-centered assistance in regions affected by mass violence.