EL CAJON — “Moon” is one of the survivors, a young woman who faced danger and threats in her country, Iraq.  Ultimately she was accepted to the United States as a refugee.

When she got married, she was 23 years old.  Her husband, 28,  was working as subcontractor with an American military reconstruction team to rebuild schools and roads in Iraq , but he was kidnapped in Falluja by insurgents and murdered due to his work with American troops, He was doing his job for the sake of his country, but his destiny drove him to death .

Telling me her traumatic story, Moon’s eyes filled with tears.  She had graduated in 2006 from the university and got married in 2007 after three years of  a love story with this man.  After she was married, her parents and younger sister left Iraq to find a safer life in Egypt.

After her husband’s murder , she was alone without any assistance, and she began to receive harassing phone calls about her husband.  The callers said he was a traitor and a spy for the “invaders.”  She changed her residence more than four times and  to escape the threats, she traveled to neighboring Jordan, where she worked hard to survive.  But she was not permitted to  continue working due to residency issues .  “I was totally frustrated and alone, can`t do anything,” she said.  “I had only the mercy of God.”

In Egypt, her family applied through the  United Nations for refugee status in the United States. Their application was approved in 2009.  Meanwhile, she returned to Iraq to work and survive , fearing that she would never see her family again .

After her father arrived in the United States , he worked with many organizations that help newcomers and refugees to resettle. He received assistance from Catholic Charities and Survivors of Torture International in persuading Rep. Duncan Hunter to sponsor a bill to permit her to reunite with her family, after four long years of separation .

She was approved to come to the United States on the same day as her birthday in November, “ I am born again to life on this day,” she said.

Although Moon does not want her last name revealed, still fearing adverse consequences in Iraq, she said,  “I am telling my story to show the people, whenever there is hope , there is chance to have new life.”

She is getting some health assistance from the Survivors of Torture organization. “ I appreciate all the good efforts of different people to bring the smile again to me and my family “

Survivors of Torture International is one of the organizations that helps people from around the world. Through the generosity of its donors , the group provides a holistic program of physical health, mental health, and social services for torture survivors and their families living in San Diego County .  Information about this organization may be accessed on its website, www.notorture.org.

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Tamimi is El Cajon bureau chief for the GC Summit.  He may be contacted at [email protected]