In 1979, I met Anisa Abdul Razzaq Abbas's 3 beloved children, Alhan, Abir, and Ruwa. Each had independently made the agonizing decision to flee their home country of Iraq, leaving behind their imprisoned parents in order to pursue a more promising future. They became dear friends and were pivotal in my spiritual journey. I met their remarkable mother, for the first time, in the pages of this book.
The translator undertook a Herculean task in offering her mother's story of the 6 years she spent in 2 different prisons. Despite the inherent challenges, what emerges is an unforgettable voice, speaking as if we were sitting very close, looking directly into one another's eyes.
With unflinching candor, Anisa Abdul Razzaq Abbas recounts many searing, personal experiences of prison life, and shares, with uncommon compassion, her encounters with fellow prisoners. Woven throughout, is her deep love for her faith and her family.
Her voice will remain with me for the rest of my life.