Mahfoutha Sindiyanat El-Karama Award

Mahfoutha represents the woman who has struggled throughout her life, who has fought tirelessly against the world for a better life for herself, her family, her community, for women and for men in war, in revolution, in the struggle for liberation, in the constant battle simply to live with dignity from day to day and from year to year. She represents the woman who has had her dignity stripped from her without recognition or recompense, the woman whose heroism is witnessed but never acknowledged, the woman who has been crushed but will never be broken. It is to honor these formidable women that we have created this award a symbol of our gratitude to those who have stood up for their people, who have stood up for women. We want to celebrate their strength and their dignity, to offer them respect and encouragement where they have had little, and to show the world that the greatest resilience is in the least powerful among us.

3rd Award Sindiyanat El Karama

On 27 December 2008, Karama and the Arab Women's Fund awarded the second Mahfoutha Sindiyanat El-Karama Award, to Zohor Mdaghri Alawi, of Fes, Morocco. A lifelong teacher, Alawi made formidable contributions to Morocco's women's movement as the founder of the country's first human rights organization, OMDH, in 1988, and as a founder of the first counselling centre for women victims of violence in 1994. She served on the editorial committee of the 8th of March newspaper, and wrote numerous feminist articles for more than 15 years. Alawi was honored by the Arab Women's Fund, the regional partners of the Karama movement, and her country peers as the second recipient of the award.

1st Award Sindiyanat El Karama

The Award was named after its first recipient: Mahfoutha Shtayyeh, from Salem village near Nublus. This seemingly frail 65-year-old woman inspired us with her strength, her passion, and the sheer force of her will. As Israeli soldiers and settlers uprooted hundreds of the olive trees in her village, Mahfoutha clung to the wreck of one of her trees in protest. In the face of the rape of her community’s lands, livelihoods, and dignity, Mahfoutha stood up to military with courage.

She embodies what the Sindiyanat (the oak tree) represents. This large, powerful and beautiful tree provides security for the vulnerable, shelter for a multitude, food and shade for the hungry and tired. It is the symbol of strength and resilience, of struggle and endurance, of loyalty and longevity.