Umama Fatema, spokesperson for Students Against Discrimination, has declined an award conferred upon all women who participated in the Bangladesh July uprising in 2024 by the US State Department’s ‘International Women of Courage’ programme.
On the night of 29 March, Umama Fatema announced her decision to reject the award through a Facebook post. She stated that the US State Department’s ‘International Women of Courage’ Award 2025 had nominated female activists for special recognition in honour of their contributions to the July uprising.
As part of this recognition, the ‘Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award’ had been bestowed upon all women involved in the movement. She also cited the official statement from the awarding authority in her post and mentioned that the award ceremony was scheduled for 1 April, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump would present the honours.
Explaining her reasons for declining the award, Umama Fatema stated, “Collective recognition of women activists is deeply honourable for us. However, this award has been used to directly endorse Israel’s brutal attack on Palestine in October 2023. By justifying Israel’s assault while disregarding Palestine’s struggle for freedom, the award’s neutrality has been compromised. The Palestinian people have long been deprived of their fundamental human rights, including their right to land. In solidarity with Palestine’s fight for independence, I am personally rejecting this award.”
The Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award was intended to recognise a courageous group of women who played a pivotal role in the student protest movement against violent repression in Bangladesh during July and August 2024.
According to the US State Department, these women demonstrated exceptional bravery, including standing between security forces and male protestors despite facing threats and violence.
