12 Incredible Assyrian Women Around the World

by Reine Hanna

March 8, 2017 marks International Women’s Day. Here are 12 of many Assyrian women inspiring positive change across the globe. (The list is not in any order.)

Attiya Gamri (Haarlem, Netherlands), Roise Malek-Yonan (California), Jonta, “Yimma d’Nahla” (Nahla, Iraq), Dr. Helen Malko (New York City, N.Y.), Nineveh Dinha (Salt Lake City, Utah), Mna Yaku (Erbil, Iraq), Sumer Homeh (Nairobi, Kenya), Savina Dawood (Ankawa, Iraq), Atorina Zomaya (Chicago, Illinois), Maryam Shamalta (San Jose, California), Kara Hermez (Stockholm, Sweden), Samar George (Khabour, Syria).

Rosie Malek-Yonan (California) is a woman who wears many hats. She has gained international recognition as an actress, author, and activist—among many other things. She is a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent Assyrian families. Rosie has dedicated much of her career to advocating for the rights of Assyrians, using her platform to bring attention to the Assyrian Genocide of 1914-1918. She has starred in major Hollywood films. As a human rights activist, Rosie has challenged world leaders for their failure to protect Assyrian communities in the Middle East.