Militants with the Islamic State (IS) publicly executed a woman known for her work to advance women’s human rights in Iraq. According to the United Nations, the IS militants tortured the woman, Sameera Salih Ali al-Nuaimy, for several days before she was convicted of apostasy and killed on September 22. Ms. Al-Nuaimy had openly criticized IS for the destruction of historic religious sites in Mosul, Iraq. She is one of several prominent Iraqi women recently executed or imprisoned by IS.
United Nations officials stated, “[e]ducated, professional women seem to be particularly at risk” of death in ISIS controlled territories in Iraq. ISIS has also raped, kidnapped, killed and enslaved hundreds of women and girls from minority ethnic groups.
Compiled from: Cumming-Bruce, Nick, Women’s Rights Activist Executed by ISIS in Iraq, The New York Times (September 25, 2014); Female human rights activist killed by ISIS, FoxNews (September 25, 2014).