In a letter to the Iraqi Prime Minister, the Human Rights Committee of Sweden’s Scientific and Literary Academies appeals for the release of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a doctoral student at Princeton University who was kidnapped in Iraq almost two years ago.
Tsurkov was conducting research for her dissertation when she was abducted, reportedly by Kataib Hezbollah. Her family has had no contact with her since then, and they have no information regarding her health or current circumstances.
In the letter, the Committee expresses deep concern about Tsurkov’s situation and urges the Iraqi government to intensify its efforts to secure her release and to make public the findings of the investigation reportedly launched in 2023.
The letter:
Stockholm 3 April 2025
Your Excellency,
We, the Human Rights Committee of Sweden’s Scientific and Literary Academies, write to respectfully request your urgent assistance with the dire situation of Elizabeth Tsurkov, a U.S.-based doctoral student at Princeton University who was kidnapped nearly two years ago and remains in captivity.
As scholars and researchers, we are deeply concerned that Ms. Tsurkov is believed to have been abducted by Kataib Hezbollah while carrying out scientific research in Iraq for her dissertation, just days after undergoing emergency spinal surgery. Our concern for her safety is heightened because her family has had no communication with her captors throughout her prolonged captivity and thus has no information about her conditions of confinement and well-being.
We understand that your government announced in mid-2023 that it was undertaking an investigation into Ms. Tsurkov’s kidnapping but that to date no information has been made available to her family or the public. We are also aware that your government has indicated Iraq’s commitment to efforts to secure her release. In light of the above, we respectfully request that you redouble your efforts to bring about her release and safe return to the United States. In the interim, we ask that you use your good offices to ensure that the findings of the investigation, as well as the steps that your government has taken thus far to secure Ms. Tsurkov’s release, are made public.
Thank you in advance, Your Excellency, for your attention to this matter of utmost importance.
Respectfully yours,
Stefan Svallfors
Professor, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of Sweden’s Scientific and Literary Academies
The Human Rights Committee of Sweden’s Scientific and Literary Academies includes members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities, the Swedish Academy and the Young Academy of Sweden.
