Majd Izzat al-Chourbaji (Arabic: مجد عزت الشربجي )(born 1981) is a Syrian peace activist. In 2015, she received the U.S. State Department's International Women of Courage Award, for her work with women and human rights in Syria.[1][2]
Madj Izzat al-Chourbaji was born in 1981 in the town of Darayya, Syria. [3] When she was six months old, her family went to France because of violence in Syria. They returned to Syria in 1991. In Syria, Majd studied French literature. She received a degree from Damascus University. After college, Majd worked on an anti-corruption program in the Damascus suburbs. [4]
When the violence from the Arab Spring came to Syria, Majd started sit-ins for the freedom of political prisoners. She went to jail, and was injured by the police. Although Mjad was hurt, she wanted peaceful protest.[4] She started classes on peace and citizenship for the prisoners. [1][5] Majd persuaded 150 women prisoners to have a hunger strike. She wanted to go to court to get publicity for the women's problems. [4] Finally, she went to court. Majd and 83 prisoners received their freedom, in a prisoner exchange with the Syrian opposition. The Syrian security forces continued to watch Majd, so she went to Lebanon [1]with her three children. [4][6]