Dear Zari: The Secret Lives of the Women of Afghanistan

True stories from women in Afghanistan, giving voice to these women for the first time and allowing them to tell their stories in their own words. Moving, enlightening, heart-breaking -- Dear Zari gives voice to the secret lives of women across Afghanistan for the first time, and allows them to tell their stories in their own words: from the child bride given as payment to end a family feud, to a life spent in a dark, dusty room weaving carpets, to a young girl being brought up as a boy, to living as a widow shunned by society. Intimate, emotional, often painful but at times uplifting, these thirteen stories uncover how the customs of this deeply religious and intensely traditional society can cause real suffering for many women. 'Zari' is Zarghuna Kargar, an Afghan woman now living in London, with an incredible story of her own; growing up in war-torn Kabul, she and her family fled to Pakistan shortly before the Taliban took power, and in 2001 Zarghuna moved to the UK to begin a new life. Working on the BBC World Service programme Afghan Women's Hour , Zarghuna was part of a profoundly influential project that gave support, education and encouragement to millions of women and men across Afghanistan. For ten years Afghan Women's Hour aired discussions, covering difficult -- often taboo -- subjects, and Zarghuna heard from hundreds of women eager to share their stories. It is these life stories which have inspired her to write this book. She is a brave and compassionate advocate for these women, and gives hope and reassurance to so many by bringing their experiences into the light for the first time. Through poignant and powerful testimonies, Dear Zari reveals the reality that newspapers and footage on our screens fail to show, opening up a whole country and a hidden way of life.

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