Fairuz Yamulky

Fairuz Yamulky is an Iraqi-born Canadian, from Calgary, Alberta, who was working in Iraq for GSF Cement and Sand Company, when she was kidnapped and held captive for 16 days in northern Iraq.

Yamulky was kidnapped on September 6, 2004, when she was on her way to Fallujah. Her driver and a colleague were not taken. According to her family, kidnappers threatened to execute her, unless they were paid $2.5 million and 50 Iraqi prisoners were released.

At approximately 9:45 p.m. local time, September 21, 2004, a Black Hawk helicopter, which had been on routine patrol, was diverted to the desert in the north to retrieve Yamulky. A reporter was also aboard. About an hour later, a car arrived with Yamulky in it, to transfer her to a secure location. US Army, and Iraqi forces, were said to be assisted by one of the kidnappers, whom Yamulky promised to keep safe if he helped her to escape. 

Yamulky, who had gone back to Iraq to assist in rebuilding the country, was not on any missing persons list. The Canadian government, however, was aware that she had been kidnapped.