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Zarifa

A Woman's Battle in a Man's World, by Afghanistan's Youngest Female Mayor. As Featured in the NETFLIX documentary IN HER HANDS
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( 596 ratings, 80 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Zarifa recounts the inspirational journey of Zarifa Ghafari, one of Afghanistan's first female mayors, as she navigates immense challenges and threats in her quest for change and empowerment. Co-authored with journalist Hannah Lucinda Smith, the memoir offers an intimate look into Ghafari's personal and professional struggles, highlighting her relentless advocacy for women's rights in the face of adversity. This compelling biography provides a poignant insight into the life and courage of a remarkable leader.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This compelling memoir offers an inspiring glimpse into the life of a courageous Afghan woman navigating the challenges of leadership and change. You might enjoy this book if you're interested in personal stories of resilience, women's rights, and the impact of international politics on individual lives.

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A poignant and inspiring memoir by Afghanistan's youngest female mayor and devoted human rights activist. As featured in the NETFLIX documentary IN HER HANDS.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
A moving and inspiring memoir by Afghanistan's youngest female mayor and campaigner for human rights, as seen in Netflix's In Her Hands documentary.

Zarifa will break your heart' – Christina Lamb, author of Our Bodies, Their Battlefields and I Am Malala

'Incredible' – Stylist

'In this earnest and fiery memoir, an activist and politician from Afghanistan recounts how her country's instability marked her life' – New York Times

Zarifa Ghafari was two years old when the Taliban banned girls from schools. She was seven when the American airstrikes began. She was twenty-four when she became the youngest and one of the first female mayors in Maidan Shahr, Afghanistan. An extremist mob barred her from her office and assassins tried to kill her six times. Through it all, Zarifa promoted peace and tried to lift up women, despite constant fear for herself and her family.

Written with honesty, pain and, ultimately, hope, Zarifa is an astonishing memoir that offers an unparalleled perspective of the last two decades in Afghanistan from a citizen, daughter, woman and mayor.

'Zarifa's words, like her life, are an act of courage, weaving heartache with hope' – Shubhangi Swarup, author of Latitudes of Longing

'This gripping book can be read at one go and surely is a must buy' – Telegraph (India)

'Frank and impassioned, Ghafari's narrative spotlights the power of activism... a remarkable story of perseverance and resilience' – Publishers Weekly

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Zarifa has been praised as an illuminating and heart-wrenching account of a woman's struggle in Afghanistan. The memoir is described as candid, poignant, and powerful, highlighting Ghafari's resilience and activism. It is seen as an inspiring story that offers a glimpse into the turbulent history of Afghanistan, resonating with readers for its sincere and courageous narrative.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349017020

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 124.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Zarifa Ghafari

At the age of twenty-four, Zarifa Ghafari became mayor of Maidan Wardak, a province of Kabul, Afghanistan; before that she had launched and operated a women-focused radio station. During her tenure, violent threats were made against her to dissuade her from taking up her role, including six attempts made on her life, and her father murdered in retribution. After overseeing 70,000 families during the fall of Kabul, she escaped from the Taliban in August 2021 to seek refuge in Germany. Ghafari was included by the BBC as one of the '100 most inspiring and influential women in the world' in 2019, received the International Woman of Courage Award from the US State Department in 2020 and the Oxi Day Foundation Award for Courage in 2021. She is now setting up a foundation for women in Afghanistan.

Hannah Lucinda Smith

Hannah Lucinda Smith, author of Erdogan Rising: The Battle for the Soul of Turkey (HarperCollins/William Collins 2019), is The Times correspondent in Turkey, where she has covered conflicts, a coup attempt and the rise of controversial president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During her time in the region, she has also reported on the Middle East, from inside rebel-held Syria, on the front lines of the battle against Isis in Iraq, and joined the mass movement of migrants on their journey to Europe in 2015. She has also worked also for the BBC, contributed to the Atlantic and the Spectator, and has been awarded a Pulitzer grant to write for Wired magazine.

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