Sara Mohammad facts for kids
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Sara Mohammad (born in 1967) is a human rights activist who was born in the Kurdish region of Iraq and now lives in Sweden. A human rights activist is someone who works to protect the basic rights and freedoms that all people should have. Sara is also a trained pharmacist.
In 1993, she moved to Sweden to find safety. She had to leave her home country after escaping a forced marriage when she was a teenager. Because she stood up for herself, her own brother threatened her, and she was in great danger. This experience led her to dedicate her life to helping others in similar situations.
A Champion for Women's Rights
Sara Mohammad is famous for her work fighting against a type of violence known as "honor-related violence." This is when people, usually girls and women, are punished by their families for actions that are believed to bring shame on the family.
In 2002, after a young woman named Fadime Şahindal was tragically killed in Sweden, Sara started an organization called GAPF. The name stands for Glöm Aldrig Pela och Fadime, which is Swedish for "Never Forget Pela and Fadime." Pela and Fadime were two young women who lost their lives to honor-related violence.
Early Life and Escape
Sara's fight for others began with her own personal struggle. In 1984, when she was 17 years old, her family tried to force her into a marriage she did not want. She bravely refused, but this led to her being mistreated and threatened by her brother. To save herself, she had to run away from her family.
These difficult experiences gave her the determination to fight against honor-related violence and to support those who are being controlled or hurt by their families.
Activism in Sweden
In 2001, Sara founded the organization GAPF to officially begin her work against honor-related violence. GAPF works closely with the Swedish government and local leaders to protect people at risk. Since 2005, this teamwork has helped strengthen efforts to prevent forced marriages and other harmful practices against girls and women.
For her amazing work, Sara has received special recognition. In March 2017, a university in Sweden, Linköping University, gave her an honorary doctorate. This is a special award given to people who have made a big impact on the world. The university honored her for her "fearless commitment for the rights of girls and young women."
Sara's Views
Sara Mohammad speaks openly about her opinions. She believes that some politicians and activists in Sweden are sometimes afraid to speak up for the rights of immigrant women. She says they worry about being called racist.
She also feels that the situation for some young girls in Sweden is not getting better. She has said that even very young girls are sometimes forced by their families to wear headscarves and are treated like objects. She believes that everyone should be free to make their own choices.
