Article:
Israeli-Russian Citizen Elizabeth Tsurkov Abducted by Militia Group in Iraq
Princeton University doctoral student, Elizabeth Tsurkov, has been reported missing and abducted by a radical Iran-backed militia group while conducting research in Iraq. The 36-year-old Israeli-Russian citizen was studying political science at the prestigious Ivy League institution when she was kidnapped by members of the Shiite group Kataeb Hezbollah in Baghdad in March.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement declaring that Tsurkov is being held by the Shi’ite militia Kata’ib Hezbollah and holds Iraq responsible for her fate and safety.
In a chilling Facebook post from 2019, Tsurkov detailed her experience of meeting survivors of the genocide and ethnic displacement in Ninewa, Iraq. She expressed the immense horrors inflicted by ISIS on Syrians and Iraqis, emphasizing the lasting effects on society. Tsurkov brought attention to the distrust between communities in Ninewa and the feeling of insecurity that pervades Iraq, which she heard from both Iraqi and Iraqi Kurdistan residents.
She also highlighted the positive efforts of activists, poets, intellectuals, and ordinary individuals who are challenging traditional beliefs and practices, particularly in relation to religion and tradition in public and communal life. Tsurkov promised to publish more about her findings in the coming weeks.
Elizabeth Tsurkov entered Iraq in January using her Russian passport to pursue her doctoral thesis from Princeton University. Additionally, she is associated with the American think tank, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, and has cultivated a vast network of Middle Eastern contacts, primarily in Syria, for her research.
According to the New York Times, Tsurkov was abducted by members of the Shiite group after leaving a cafe in a middle-class neighborhood in Baghdad. She is regarded as an esteemed analyst in Syria and has extensively studied jihadist groups in the Middle East. Tsurkov holds degrees in international relations from the Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University.
Princeton University has expressed deep concern for Tsurkov’s safety and well-being. They consider her a valued member of their community and eagerly await her safe return so she can resume her studies and be reunited with her family.
As this distressing situation unfolds, it is important to prioritize Tsurkov’s safety and well-being. The international community must come together to condemn this act and demand her immediate release. The abduction of a dedicated scholar further underscores the need for enhanced security measures for researchers and academics working in volatile regions.
