March 2012 Non-Fiction Book of the Month.

This is an extraordinarily moving autobiography of the first lady of Afghan politics. Left to die in the sun as the unwanted 19th daughter of an influential village leader Fawzia Koofi, through an enormous amount of perseverance good luck and capitalising on her family’s political background, rose to become an advocate for women’s rights and stand against the corruption and infighting that bedevils Afghanistan.

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Synopsis

Surviving the Russian and Taliban regimes, the murders of her father, brother, and husband, numerous attempted assassinations, and all the difficulties that come with being a woman in an oppressed society, Koofi fought, and won, becoming the first Afghani woman Parliament president. Here she shares her amazing story interwoven with a series of letters she wrote to her two daughters before each political trip, at a time when she feared for her life every day. Today, Koofi is one of the most outspoken critics of human rights violations against Afghani women and children, and uses her influence to bring global attention to the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, even as the Taliban gains a presence there. As President Karzai continues to confound leaders worldwide and the Taliban gains power in the region, Koofi embodies the political, sexual, and cultural tensions in Afghanistan, and offers hope for the future of one of the most dangerous parts of the world.

Reviews

Praise for Fawzia Koofi :

'One of the country's most outspoken democracy activists ... Koofi describes unflinchingly the wreckage she witnessed at the hands of Afghans of all ideologies and clans.' - The Globe and Mail

About the Author

Fawzia Koofi isthe first Afghani woman Parliament president and a noted activist for women and children's rights. She is currently a leading candidate for the presidential elections in 2014. Koofi was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2009. Before getting elected to Parliament, Koofi was employed by UNICEF as a Child Protection Officer from 2002 through 2004. The mother of two girls, she lives in Kabul, Afghanistan. Nadene Ghouri is an award-winning journalist and BBC correspondent.   Author photo © Camille Plutarque More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation