MAYADA - IRAQCHI KANYA

Book Details

• Title: Mayada: Daughter of Iraq

• Author: Jean Sasson

• Translators: Bharati Pande

• Publisher: Mehta Publishing House

• Language: Translated from English to Marathi

• Edition: 3rd Edition

• ISBN: 9788177666571

• Pages: 294

• Publishing Year: February 2006

• Category: Biography & True Stories

• Cover: Paperback

About The Book
Mayada: Daughter of Iraq is the gripping and emotional memoir of Mayada Al-Askari, a woman born into a powerful Iraqi family, with a lineage of brave fighters and nationalist pioneers. Her grandfather fought alongside Lawrence of Arabia, and another is known as Iraq’s first nationalist. Mayada’s life, however, took a dramatic turn when Saddam Hussein's regime came to power.

Once a divorcée with two children, managing a printing business, Mayada’s world was upended when she was arrested in 1999 under the charge of anti-Saddam activities. The authorities accused her of printing and distributing posters against the regime. She was imprisoned in the notorious Baldiya Prison, where her life would be forever changed. Thrown into a foul-smelling cell, Mayada joined 17 other women, all from different walks of life, who shared a similar fate of imprisonment without trial, torture, and the constant fear of death.

While confined, Mayada’s extraordinary history captivated her fellow prisoners. They were fascinated by her lineage, the tragic assassination of King Faisal II, her encounters with Saddam Hussein, and her family’s storied past. Mayada’s story unfolds as she shares her memories, offering readers a rare and vivid insight into Iraq’s rich culture, its civilized society before the rise of Saddam, and the profound impact of his cruel regime on the lives and minds of ordinary Iraqis.

This book provides an unparalleled perspective on life in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, revealing the strength and resilience of its people, especially women, who suffered through unimaginable hardship yet maintained their humanity.