Razan al-Najjar

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Overview

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Razan al-Najjar born Gaza, Palestine September 11, 1999 (d. 2018). Paramedic nurse injured caring for wounded unarmed protesters April 2018; returned to be killed by Israeli sniper soldiers.

Quotations

“In our society women are often judged, but society has to accept us. If they don’t want to accept us by choice, they will be forced to accept us because we have more strength than any man. The strength that I showed the first day of the protests, I dare you to find it in anyone else.” (electronic intifada, Jun. 2, 2018)

“We have one goal—to save lives and evacuate people. And to send a message to the world: Without weapons, we can do anything.” (Washington Post, Jun. 2, 2018; photo +972 magazine)

Saiza Nabarawi

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Overview

Saiza Nabarawi (née Zainad Murad) born Cairo, Egypt January 31, 1897 (d. 1985). Egyptian anti-imperialist feminist, journalist; took off veil to protest British occupation 1919; unveiled in nonviolent protest May 1923; editor feminist L’Egyptienne 1925-40; co-founder Egyptian Political Union; founded Women’s Popular Resistance Committee; postwar advocate of nonalignment; prewar defender of Palestinian human rights.

Quotations

“What did we demand? A little sympathy for the unfortunate who suffer in the East from the wrongs of imperialist politics. This testimony of sympathy. . . accords moreover with the declaration of human rights.” (Margot Badran, Feminists, Islam, p. 235; 1923 photo pinterest.com)

Anissa Najjar

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Overview

Anissa Najjar (née Rawda) born Beirut, Lebanon, Ottoman Empire June 13, 1913 (d. 2016). Druze social worker and headmistress; vice president international WILPF 1977; active in independence movement 1943-4; founding head Village Welfare Society, the first in the Middle East 1953; founding president WILPF chapter Lebanese Committee for Peace and Freedom (LCPF) 1961; delegate to women’s conferences Cairo, Nairobi, Beijing.

Quotations

“Peace begins at home—peace begins with the mothers who bring up the children. Women are good mothers when they are peaceful—when they teach and educate their children through their practices. This has been my philosophy, my life-long Literacy of the Mind-project.” (June 2008, WILPF final report on Lebanon, p. 50; photo druzeworldwide.com)

Sumaya Farhat Naser

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Overview

Sumaya Farhat Naser born Bir Zeit, Palestine June 11, 1948. Professor of Ecology; Palestinian peace activist; Augsburg Peace Award 2000; Kreisky Human Rights Prize 1995; co-founder Jerusalem Center for Women.

Quotations

"The time has come to lay down our weapons and our fears. We refuse to accept more warfare in our lives, our communities, our nations. We refuse to go along with the fear. We refuse to give in to the violence. We refuse to be enemies." (joint statement with Gila Svirsky, Sept. 6, 2007; photo Wikipedia)

Ahlem Nasraoui

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Overview

Ahlem Nasraoui born Sbeitla, Kasserine, Tunisia August 21, 1991. Leader of Arab Spring; maintains peace blog Peaceholics. Founded Creativo Club for peaceful protest through arts; founded Young Leaders Entrepreneurs. Celebrated International Women's Day 2014 with human chain peace symbol dedicated to "peace among women, their unity and strength and free will." (US Embassy Tunis, March 8, 2014)

Quotations

“We also conveyed that violence is not a means of demonstrating masculinity or power. We showed how peace can be more powerful.” (ican, Dec. 1, 2017; photo linkedin)

Noor of Jordan

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Overview

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Noor of Jordan (née Lisa Halaby) born Washington DC August 23, 1951. Queen of Jordan, 1978-99; led international landmine campaign; promoted aid to Balkans 1998; member International Campaign for Missing Persons 1996; official mediator in Colombia civil war; co-founded Global Zero to eliminate nuclear weapons 2008.

Quotations

"It's women who can contribute to achieving real security, not bombs and bullets and repressive governments." (Larry King Live, April 13, 2005; photo Wikipedia)

Sai’da Nusseibeh

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Overview

Sai’da Nusseibeh born Jenin, Palestine September 1, 1944. Muslim Palestinian leads effort to create dialog between Jews and Palestinians; founded Jewish Arab Dialogue and Education in Europe (JADE), early 1970s.

Quotations

“What price is peace? How many more must be killed, before the two nations wake up to look at their blood-soaked hands? There is so much anger, hatred and fear, and the wall between the two nations (the Palestinians and the Israelis), is getting higher—both sides are getting away from reality, and closing their ears, eyes and heart to the suffering of the ‘other.’ We should look into ways to bring down the wall of fear, brick by brick, for all the mosques, synagogues and churches in the world—are not worth the blood of one killed child.” (“Women Creating a World Beyond War and Violence”, Aharoni)