We often think of Iraq and generalize the public on the view that we have of the government. This summer, I had the chance to read a very interesting account of a lady’s life who represents majority of the Iraqi population and her experiences with government under Saddam Hussein. Mayada, by Jean Sasson, is one of the books that gives you the feel of being in the shoes of the main character and this is complemented by the fact that this story is 100% true.
Jean Sasson, having travelled a lot of the world, made a trip to see Iraq and Iraqi life with her own eyes. She spent time in children’s leukemia wards and had the chance of seeing Iraq from the point of view of the general population instead of the sight travellers get from a massive hotels windows.
It is there that she met Mayada Al Aksari, the daughter of one of the most influential families in Iraq who, later, found herself suffering in torture cells set up by Saddam… The details of the days she spent with other innocent people facing pain and the fear of death each day and the tale of their endurance brings tears in the eyes of all readers. I believe that this book is a must read for all of us and thanks to Jean Sasson and Mayada’s friendship and sisterhood, it gives us a chance to feel a fraction of the pain Mayada felt and to bring close to our hearts the stories of many who suffered by the hands of a tyrant.
It brings us back to the oldest and the most important lesson - Faith leads a long way, even in the face of death… Hope creeps into the walls of the darkest cells flooded with hopelessness and love pulls even the most broken person back towards life.
Hello my bloggy friend! Just wanted to stop by and say hello! I am so glad I met you
Hope to get to know you better!
Loved your blog on the book about my dearest friend in the world, Mayada Al-Askari. Thank you for this… And, Happy reading… Jean
Hi Jean,
Thank you for writing in. I am obliged to be hearing from you and want you to know that I truly admire and enjoy your writing.
Thanks for your comment.
Thank you. You are very kind to say so. I enjoy your blog, too! I love the way women are beginning to stick up for each other — it’s a move in the right direction for women’s issues/rights.
While I agree that it is the right direction for women’s issues… I also think that despite all the efforts that have already been made, there is a long way to go. These issues have seeped into every aspect of our lives… whether it is the incidence of ‘the glass ceiling’, lack of equal rights, or abuse and mistreatment. Changing the current norm is going to be a slow and labored process, and yet it seems like we could do so much more.
Then again, every little step is a step towards a better future.
Mayada’s story has touched so many lives (myself included). I highly recomend it to anyone that is interested in women’s rights or in true-to-life stories that take place in the Middle East.