Houzan Mahmoud is a feminist from Kurdistan Iraq now living in London. She has campaigned against the oppression of women that would follow the imposition of Sharia law, and has accordingly received a death threat from the jihadist group Ansar al-Islam. “With the permission of Great God, we will kill you either in Iraq or in London by the middle of March, because you are campaigning against Islam. You should be sent to God for punishment.”

The website Indymedia UK has the story plus contact details for those who would like to offer letters of support, but I found myself somewhat at a loss for words. What does one say to help someone who has received a death threat?

After some thought, I decided to model a letter loosely on the condolence letter, or to be more accurate, the sympathy note. Here is what I wrote:

Dear Ms Mahmoud,

I was deeply saddened to hear via Indymedia UK of the death threats you have received. Nobody deserves this, but it is especially detestable that these threats have been directed at you for the offense of trying to improve the lives of Iraqi women.

I will be posting a blog entry tonight in your support. It is not very much, I know, but I hope at least to let you know that you are in people’s thoughts.

Best wishes,
Chris Lawson

I encourage readers to write their own versions. Amnesty International reports that it gives great hope to those in political distress to know that others are writing letters of support, even if the letters are destined to be ignored by their persecutors.

Email Houzan Mahmoud at houzan73@yahoo.co.uk