“At the heart of it all, humanity is the biggest thing that links us, and I think her story really
illustrates that” – Hammad Siddiqi
In this episode of Hear My Story, we hear from Hammad Siddiqi – a transplant to Cincinnati
who brought with him the remarkable story passed down through his family of their relative,
Noor Inayat Khan. Born into Indian royalty and raised in the Sufi tradition of peace, Kahn defied
expectations when she volunteered as a British secret agent during World War II. As the first
female wireless operator sent into Nazi-occupied France, she displayed extraordinary courage,
resilience, and determination. Despite the risks, Noor aided the Resistance, endured capture
and torture without revealing secrets, and was ultimately murdered at Dachau. Her legacy—as
a symbol of bravery, humanity, and standing up for what is right—continues to inspire
generations of upstanders around the world.
This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe
here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Our gratitude to Margaret & Michael Valentine for their ongoing support of this series.
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Episode Resources
Find out more about Noor’s life
https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/inayat_khan_noor.shtml
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/who-was-noor-khan/
https://britishonlinearchives.com/posts/category/notable-days/810/80th-anniversary-of-the-
death-of-noor-inayat-khan
https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Princess-Life-Noor-Inayat/dp/0930872789
Learn about the Sufi faith
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sufism
