Kurdish woman from Afrin now living in Germany awarded UK humanitarian prize

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Roudy Ali, a Kurdish activist, social worker, and refugee from the Syrian city of Afrin, was among those awarded a prestigious British prize for her humanitarian work.

The Diana Award is named after Diana, the Princess of Wales, who died in a car crash in 1997. The award honors people between 9 and 25-years-old who work to improve the lives of others.

“I’m proud to announce that I’m receiving [the] @DianaAward 2021 today,” Ali tweeted. “[It’s] the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts” in the memory of Diana’s “belief that young people have the power to change the world.”

Roudy, 24, was forced to marry and have a child while she was still a minor, according to the Diana Award website.

Ali traveled for 28 days to reach Germany in 2015. She now lives in Munster and is a member of the integration council and social committee in the city council.

“Roudy has supported women in refugee camps, organized empowerment sessions for those coming from conservative families and women experiencing marital problems,” the charity foundation said.

“Wanting to help women back in Syria, Roudy started a social media campaign that reached thousands of women in need of support and advice,” it said.

She has also fundraised for women’s education and enrolled in a social work program at her university.

“I am active in different fields such as journalism, helping refugees and women and integration politics,” in Germany, she told Kurdistan 24 on Tuesday. “I received this award because I am myself a refugee and experienced a lot in life and was forced to marry as a minor."

“Now I have inspired other women to develop themselves and continue their education.”

Turkey-backed rebels occupied the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in March 2018. The occupation has continued amid widespread accusations of war crimes, including ethnic cleansing, kidnapping for ransom, and gender-based violence.