WASHINGTON, DC, November 13, 2015 — Today’s world headlines report developments for three extraordinary individuals who have all been awarded by the Washington Oxi Day Foundation for their courage in the pursuit of freedom and democracy: Myanmar’s (Burma’s) Aung San Suu Kyi; ISIS-executed American journalist James Foley; and jailed Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus. These leaders applied to their own modern challenges the spirit the Greek people exhibited on Oxi Day — an unmatched bravery that changed the trajectory of the Second World War.

2011 Battle of Crete Award winner Aung San Suu Kyi‘s political party, which she leads, won an historic election against the military-backed governing party. This result means Aung San Suu Kyi’s party will choose Myanmar’s next president.

Aung San Suu Kyi

US Campaign for Burma Co-Founder and Executive Director Aung Din accepts the Battle of Crete Award on behalf of Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest [Pictured L-R: Congressman Joe Crowley, Aung Din, Chris Matthews, Andy Manatos]

Pentagon officials reported that a drone strike killed the masked executioner of 2014 Oxi Day Award winner, journalist James Foley. Known as Jihadi John, Foley’s killer was an Englishman Mohammed Emwazi.

John and Diane Foley, parents of James Foley, accept the Oxi Day Award

James Foley

The husband of 2015 Battle of Crete Award winner Leyla Yunus, who was jailed with his wife as part of the Azerbaijan’s crackdown on civil society and free press, was released to home confinement for medical treatment. As well, reports suggest that Leyla Yunus, also in need of desperate medical care, may soon receive similar attention.

Dinara Yunus receives the Battle of Crete Award on behalf of her mother from The Hon. Nancy Pelosi and Washington Oxi Day Foundation President and Founder Andy Manatos

Bono speaks about the plight of Leyla Yunus via video at the Oxi Day Foundation’s 2015 gala

Human rights experts in Washington are attributing this improvement in Azerbaijan to the exposure Leyla and Arif Yunus received before major American policymakers at the Washington Oxi Day Foundation’s black tie dinner at the U.S. Institute of Peace on October 28th. The Yunus’ daughter Dinara traveled to Washington to receive the Award on behalf of her mother. Bono introduced Leyla Yunus via video at the October 28th Oxi Day Celebration and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi presented the Award.