Maha Abu-Dayyeh

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Overview

Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas born Palestine August 24, 1951 (d. 2015). Palestinian human rights leader; feminist. Co-founder and Director, Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling, E. Jerusalem, 1991-2015. Received French Republic Human Rights Award, 1998; named Ms. Woman of the Year, 2002. Protested Israeli violence against women.

Quotations

“Peace is made between peoples and not between leaders. A process that should lead to a political solution that is sustainable and consequently permanent. . . should not be left to the confines of the generals, and should be transparent to the relevant societies. We have to address and understand each other’s history with an open mind. If we leave it only to men, we get Israeli generals and Palestinians who will not be defeated and there is no room to negotiate.” (No Women No Peace, 1000peacewomen; photo inclusivesecurity.org)

Mahnaz Afkhami

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Overview

Mahnaz Afkhami born Kerman, Iran January 14, 1941. Human rights activist; Iran's first Minister of Women's Affairs, 1976-78. Founded Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP), 2000.

Quotations

"The crass infringement of women’s rights we see in the Muslim world has more to do with power, patriarchy, and misuse of religion as political weapon than with religion properly understood as individual faith." ("Gender Apartheid, Cultural Relativism, and Women’s Human Rights"; 2011 photo Wikipedia)

Agnes Mariam of the Cross

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Overview

Agnes Mariam of the Cross (née Mary Fadia Laham) born Jounieh, Lebanon December 23, 1951. Mother superior of Monastery of St. James the Mutilated, Qâra, Syria. Led restoration of St. James the Mutilated, 1994. Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize by Mairead Maguire in recognition of her work leading the Mussalaha (“Reconciliation”) movement, dedicated to finding a peaceful resolution to the Syrian civil war, 2014.

Quotations

"A new coalition of people can forgive one another and walk hand in hand to negotiate reconciliation among Syrians." (National Catholic Reporter, Nov. 13, 2013)

“We are sure that this path for peace is first of all domestic, between Syrians and Syrians. Stop the foreign interference, stop fueling weapons and fighters, stop the chain of hatred and radicalization is the path. Avoid pouring oil on the fire is the path. To forgive is the path and to enter in the dynamic of reconciliation is the path.” (to UN Human Rights Council, June 7, 2013; photo catholicnewsagency.com)

Ada Aheroni

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Overview

Ada Aheroni (née Andrée Yadid) born Cairo, Egypt July 30, 1933. Israeli peace poet, novelist; founding president International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace (IFLAC) 1999.; photo Wikipedia)

Quotations

My Palestinian sister,
Daughter of Abraham, like me,
Let us build a sturdy bridge
From your olive world to mine,
From my orange world to yours,
Above the boiling pain
Of acid rain prejudice

(“A Bridge of Peace”)


Peace is indeed a pregnant woman,
Peace is a mother.

(“Peace is Woman and a Mother”)

Franghiz Ali-Zadeh

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Overview

Franghiz Ali-Zadeh born Baku, Azerbaijan May 29, 1947. Pianist and composer. Named UNESCO Artist for Peace for "her contribution to spreading UNESCO’s message of peace and tolerance," 2008.

Quotations

"I would encourage the youth to find purpose in their lives and to work hard to reach their goals. They should learn foreign languages." (Azerbaijan International, Winter 1999; photo donau-uni.ac.at)

Shulamit Aloni

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Overview

Shulamit Aloni born Tel Aviv, Palestine December 27, 1928 (d. 2014). Israeli peace and human rights politician; founded International Center for Peace in the Middle East, 1982; worked with Peace Now, 1984; government minister, 1974, 1992-96; member of parliament, 1965-96; condemned apartheid, Gaza bombing and occupation.

Quotations

“[T]he state of Israel practices its own, quite violent, form of Apartheid with the native Palestinian population.” (Counterpunch, Jan. 2, 2007; photo Wikipedia)

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini

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Overview

Sanam Naraghi Anderlini born Iran October 29, 1967. UN peacekeeping expert; authority on conflict and gender. Published Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why it Matters, 2007. Primary author of MIT report on UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

Quotations

"No culture condones rape. But in war, cultural norms break down." (UNPF Bucharest workshop)

"The changing nature of warfare and the fragmentation of security means that the business of peacemaking needs change too." (Recommendations, p. 6)

“The inclusion and empowerment of women in conflict prevention and peace processes is not idealism in the midst of real politics. It is one of the necessary and infinitely pragmatic antidotes to politics and business as usual if the objective is sustainable peace.” (No Women No Peace exhibition; photo http://bit.ly/HRjdug)

Hanan Ashrawi

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Overview

Han'an Ashrawi born Ramallah, Palestine October 8, 1946. Diplomat, poet, and professor. Palestinian peace negotiator.

Quotations

“The occupation is a source of violence that has to stop.” (CNN, May 12, 2002)

“The hunger strikers’ courage is magnificently inspiring, and their selflessness deeply humbling. They have truly demonstrated that non-violent resistance is an essential tool in our struggle for freedom.” (Alternatives International Journal, June 1, 2012; 2007 photo Wikicommons)

Seyran Ates

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Overview

Seyran Ateş born Istanbul, Turkey April 20, 1963. German-Turk feminist Muslim lawyer; one of 1000 women nominated by WILPF for Nobel Peace Prize for defense of women's rights; severely wounded by Muslim fanatic 1984.

Quotations

"By nature, human beings are looking for freedom and also for pleasure, fun, even fun with sex. This is a human right and a human feeling all over the world." (Phyllis Chesler interview, Nov. 30, 2009; photo isioma.net)