Noor
Noor
On August 12, 2004, three months before the deadly November
siege of Fallujah began,
16-year-old Noor was riding down a highway in her uncle's Opal. Her father and mother were also in the car; her uncle drove. US forces
suddenly opened fire on the car, killing Noor's uncle and wounding her mother. A shrapnel fragment hit Noor in the left eye, leaving
her permanently blind in that eye.
Police arrived on the scene and prepared a report that includes witness statements gathered at the scene. The family filed a complaint
against US forces, and the complaint and police reports were formally entered into court records. In his decision, the judge wrote:
Because of the impunity given to American forces, I decided to close the investigation and to preserve a record of the investigation documents. The claimant is to be provided with a copy of these papers.
Adding to the family's suffering, Noor has been unable to obtain the surgical and prosthetics services she needs.
Monica O'Neil (left) and Leslie Johnson (right), two attorneys from Chico, California. Along with other concerned citizens in Chico, Monica and Leslie are helping to sponsor Noor's care in Amman, Jordan.
Three years later, a group of concerned American citizens from Chico, California, learned about what had happened to Noor and decided to help her. They formed an advocacy project and began raising funds to pay for Noor's treatment in the Middle East. Noor will travel outside of the country for the medical care she needs because it is unavailable in
occupied Iraq. Her dead eye will be surgically removed and, after the socket has been prepared and healed, she will receive a prosthetic eye specially created to mimic her other eye. Of course, sight in her left eye cannot be restored, but the prosthetic will improve lovely Noor's appearance and help her to live a more normal life.
The work is being done by displaced Iraqi doctors. Check back soon for updates about Noor's progress and the activities of this devoted group of supporters in Chico.
Update February 18, 2008: Noor's surgery was a success! Here are some photos.
