The following is an open letter to President Biden requesting his assistance in bringing Elizabeth home as he hosts Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani on on April 15th. Add your name to strengthen our request to President Biden to bring Elizabeth home.
President Biden,
It is time to free Elizabeth Tsurkov, a journalist, academic and human rights activist.
Elizabeth was in Baghdad conducting field work for her Princeton University doctoral dissertation when she was kidnapped by Kataib Hezbollah in March 2023. They released a proof of life video of Elizabeth in November 2023, looking scared as she reads a coerced confession.
You will be meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani on April 15. Al Sudani has strong ties to Elizabeth’s captors. They are part of his governing coalition and are embedded in the Iraqi armed forces. This presents you with a unique opportunity to ask the prime minister to use his leverage with Kataib Hezbollah to arrange for Elizabeth’s release in advance of this visit.
Mr. President, we are journalists, academics, human rights activists, members of civil society, and friends of Elizabeth. We are the people who stand for the values that the United States espouses every day around the world. We know you have other things to discuss with the prime minister, but we are asking for your help to save a life. A solution is close, but it requires you to act.
Please help us free Elizabeth Tsurkov,
YOUR NAME HERE