Umama Fatema, a prominent student leader instrumental in the ousting of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has refused the prestigious U.S. International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award in protest against Washington’s complicity in Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.
The award ceremony, scheduled for April 1, 2025, will be presided over by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump. Fatema, along with fellow activists, had been selected under the "Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award" for their fearless leadership during Bangladesh’s July 2024 uprising.
However, she publicly rejected the award, condemning its past endorsement of Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians. In a Facebook post, Fatema stated that accepting the award would be a betrayal of the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice.
"This collective recognition of women activists is an immense honor for us. However, in October 2023, this same award was used to directly endorse Israel’s brutal attacks on Palestine. By denying the Palestinian liberation struggle, the award has justified Israel’s aggression in a manner that calls its impartiality into question," she wrote.
Fatema further emphasized that Palestinians have long been deprived of their fundamental human rights, including their right to land. Out of respect for their struggle, she firmly rejected the award, concluding her statement with the slogan: "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free."
