Alyaa’s asylum with guest host Maiken Scott

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September 19, 2011 — In unstable Iraq, thousands of Iraqis who worked with U.S. military during the war face the threat of kidnapping or violence in retaliation. One young Iraqi woman who worked as a translator has received asylum here, thanks to a dogged lawyer and an American veteran who refused to forget her.

Guest host Maiken Scott talks about Alyaa Abood who worked as a translator for Philadelphia lawyer Patrick Murphy when he served in Iraq. Murphy later became the first Iraq veteran elected to Congress. Abood risked her life when working in a war zone and was threatened by extremists for this work. Members of her family were assassinated and kidnapped. After Murphy left Iraq, he asked a fellow lawyer, Elena Park of Cozen O’Connor, to take on Alyaa’s case and bring her to safety. We also hear from a local volunteer who is working with Iraqi refugees stuck in visa limbo. Janice Kelsey is part of “The List Project”.