Cover Image

The favored daughter one woman's fight to lead Afghanistan into the future

"The nineteenth daughter of a local village leader in rural Afghanistan, Fawzia Koofi was left to die in the sun after birth by her mother. But she survived, and perseverance in the face of extreme hardship has defined her life ever since. Despite the abuse of her family, the exploitative Russi...

Full description

Main Author: Koofi, Fawzia, 1975-
Other Authors: Ghouri, Nadene, 1975-
Format: Books Print Book
Language: English
French
Published: New York, NY : Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.
Edition: 1st ed.
Subjects:
Koofi, Fawzia, > 1975-
Women legislators > Afghanistan > Biography.
Legislators > Afghanistan > Biography.
Women > Afghanistan > Biography.
Women > Afghanistan > Social conditions.
Children > Afghanistan > Social conditions.
Women's rights > Afghanistan.
Human rights > Afghanistan.
Autobiography.
Summary: "The nineteenth daughter of a local village leader in rural Afghanistan, Fawzia Koofi was left to die in the sun after birth by her mother. But she survived, and perseverance in the face of extreme hardship has defined her life ever since. Despite the abuse of her family, the exploitative Russian and Taliban regimes, the murders of her father, brother, and husband, and numerous attempts on her life, she rose above her fate to becoming the first Afghani woman Parliament speaker. Here, she shares her amazing story, punctuated by a series of poignant letters she wrote to her two daughters before each political trip--letters describing the future and freedoms she dreamed of for them and for all the women of Afghanistan. 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 a frustrated American military considers relinquishing it to the Taliban. Her story movingly captures the political and cultural moment in Afghanistan, a country caught between the hope of progress and the bitterness of history"--Provided by publisher.
Item Description: Includes index.
Physical Description: vi, 266 pages ; 25 cm
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 9780230342026
0230342027
9780230120679
0230120679
Author Notes: Fawzia Koofi is Afghanistan's first female Parliament speaker and a noted activist for women's and children's rights. Born the nineteenth daughter of a local village leader in rural Afghanistan, she survived early childhood abuse, the exploitative Russian and Taliban regimes, the murders of her father, brother, and husband, and numerous attempts on her life to become one of her country's most influential leaders. A contender for the Afghanistan presidency in 2014, her story has been featured in The New York Times, Salon, Time, The Daily Beast, The Globe and Mail, and on NPR and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, among others. Koofi was selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2009. Before being 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.
Nadene Ghouri is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster. She is a former correspondent of both the BBC and Al Jazeera English.

Similar Items