Reviews
Debbie Abrahams
Member of Parliament, United Kingdom
Marzia’s life story is one of tenacity, integrity and hope. Her survival from the brutality and misogyny of the Taliban, where women’s lives are restricted in every way imaginable, as she dares to provide hope and joy to Afghan women and girls in the wonders of education, is truly inspiring. But this is also a story of a woman’s love for family and the values that they have imparted to her about the value of all humanity. And what she must give up as a result of her standing up for women. Reading Marzia’s story will make you think – what would I have done in the same circumstances? It will challenge your values and whether you’d be prepared to give up everything to live those values. It is an honor to have been asked to write this on behalf of my friend and colleague. She is a true hero of Afghanistan.
.png)
Deeyah Kahn
Emmy and Peabody award-winning documentary filmmaker
This book shares the incredible life of an incredible woman; a woman whose determination inspires everyone she meets. This book tells Marzia’s story, from her origin as an ambitious and courageous young girl who became one of the country’s first female judges in Afghanistan advocating for women within a deeply unequal system and establishing her own shelter for vulnerable women. Yet, her courage came at great personal cost. Forced to flee her homeland when the Taliban rose to power, Marzia fled to Pakistan where, refusing to despair, she ran schools for the children of impoverished Afghan refugees. She would later rebuild her life in the U.K., where she campaigned to rescue other female judges from Afghanistan, whose lives were at risk when the Taliban retook power. This is more than a story of survival. It is a story of a woman whose bravery, kindness, and unshakable belief in justice changed countless lives.
Nikki van der Gaag
Independent Gender Consultant and Fellow, Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice
Beautifully written, this memoir paints a vivid picture of the women in Afghanistan during the past 50 years, through the remarkable life of one woman who refused to give in or give up. The book gives the context for the emergence of the Taliban, with harrowing stories of women who were brought to court through no fault of their own and who suffered under a patriarchal system that gave their lives no value. The story of how Marzia became a judge, her escape from the Taliban, and her new life in the U.K., brings to life the stories we see on the news of Afghani women. It is also a testimony to the power of friendship and the love of family even in the most difficult of circumstances; and the strength and determination of a woman who, despite assassination attempts, refuses to give up her dream of women’s equality.
Rina Amiri
Former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls, and Human Rights; Cofounder and Principle for the Alliance of Diplomacy and Justice
This powerful memoir chronicles the extraordinary journey of Honorable Marzia Babakarkhail, a pioneering Afghan family court judge who stood defiantly at the crossroads of law, activism, and resistance. In a system designed to silence women, Marzia fought for justice in the courtroom and beyond it. She not only delivered verdicts under threat of retaliation but also created safe houses and lifelines for women fleeing abuse and oppression. When Kabul fell in August 2021 and the Taliban seized power, Marzia became a fierce global advocate for women judges stripped of their roles and living under death threats. She transformed her exile into action, spearheading a global campaign to help evacuate and protect these brave women—those who once upheld the rule of law—now hunted for having dared to wield it. More than a memoir, this is a call for justice and a testament to the indomitable strength of Afghan women who refuse to be erased.
​Nerissa Roberts
Head of Faculty, ESOL, Oldham College
Marzia Babakarkhail’s extraordinary journey is one of resilience, courage, and hope. From her childhood in Afghanistan to her groundbreaking work as a judge championing women’s rights, Marzia’s life is marked by her unwavering dedication to justice and equality. Forced to flee her homeland under dire circumstances, she rebuilt her life in the UK, where her determination to learn English became the foundation of a new chapter. I still remember the day Marzia walked into Oldham College, starting at ESOL Pre-Entry level, with an unshakable resolve to master the language. Progressing through the levels with unmatched focus and drive, she demonstrated how words gave her power, enabling her to reclaim her voice and thrive in her adopted home. This compelling story sheds light on Marzia’s fight for justice, her enduring connection to her roots, and her remarkable ability to turn adversity into triumph. A tale of grit and perseverance, her life is a testament to the enduring strength of the human spirit. A thoroughly gripping read!
Ruth Green
Journalist
On November 21, 2008, Marzia Babakarkhail boarded a plane to the UK, leaving her family and everything she knew behind in Afghanistan. Little did she know then, but less than 13 years later the Taliban would recapture Kabul, plunging the lives of hundreds of female judges just like her into danger. Now she knew it was her time to do what she could from outside the country to help them. Babakarkhail paints a vivid and often unsettling picture of the creeping restrictions imposed on Afghan society, firstly under the Mujahideen, later under Taliban rule from 1996-2001, right up to the devasting rollback of women’s rights since the Taliban returned to power on August 15, 2021. This is a story not just of one brave judge’s plight, but that of millions of Afghan women whose rights and voices continue to be eroded by the Taliban. This book is about the tireless activism, fight for justice and Afghan spirit that persists even in the darkest of times, and which continue to hold the international community and those in power to account.
Joanna Cherry KC
Former Member of the U.K. Parliament, Former Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights
Marzia’s life story is one of formidable strength and courage in the face of incredible adversity and the worst sort of misogyny. It will inspire those who campaign for women’s rights across the world and all those who “campaign to be a voice for the voiceless”, particularly refugees and asylum seekers. It was my privilege to work with Marzia during her campaign for the UK Government to assist Afghan female judges and prosecutors at risk from the Taliban, to escape Afghanistan. I was impressed by her dedication and her ability to partner with high-ranking politicians and influencers to try to get the UK Government to act.
Heather Barr
Associate Women's Rights Director, Human Rights Watch
Judge Marzia Babakarkhail is a hero to so many women, including me. No one should miss a chance to learn more about her story of being beautiful, broken, and rebuilt. She powerfully conveys the triumph and tragedy a whole nation of Afghan women and girls experienced in recent decades, all through the lens of her own extraordinary life.
Dr. Claire J. Press
International Conflict Journalist & Reporter
Marzia is the dreamer who tells us dreams alone are not enough. Her journey from courtroom to classroom, from being left for dead on the side of the road, to running for elected office - this is a story of hope first and global sisterhood always.
Dr. Marijke Hoek
Theologian
I’ve been alongside Marzia throughout her campaign for the resettlement of her female Afghan colleagues living in harrowing times. Liaising with governments all over the world, being available 24/7 in different time zones and under great pressure, Marzia is an ardent advocate working tirelessly on behalf of her colleagues, fueled by the fire in her bones to see justice done. This eloquent account of her life shows clearly that her quest will never be quenched. Her ability to adapt, overcome obstacles, and see possibilities serve as a catalyst to create fruitful collaborations and bring hope for the future.
Karen Badcock
Neuropsychologist
By the time Judge Marzia Babakarkhail was granted asylum in the UK in 2009, she had already narrowly escaped assassination twice and seen her home, culture and country torn apart by the Taliban. She takes us through her own life’s journey detailing the history of Afghanistan and its people prior to the Taliban first taking control in the 1990’s. She talks of her upbringing, her pursuit of justice, equality and freedom for women by disclosing what she has personally witnessed and been through over the decades in both her work and in her campaigning for women’s rights that has taken her around the world working with governments, international political organizations and charities. Bringing home what is truly happening inside Afghanistan now, she talks of the immediate changes to life when the Taliban first took hold in 1994; the evolution of Afghanistan post 9/11 and then the complete obliteration of any progress made for girls, women and their rights in 2021 when the Taliban returned and western nations suddenly left. She speaks honestly and openly about the trauma she has personally experienced over the years and reflects upon the impacts it has had on her, her family and friends and of her determination to persevere never waning and her activism continuing unabated. Carrying the weight of the fate of hundreds of Afghan female judges on her shoulders who have sought her help to escape persecution and definite assassination by the Taliban, she talks about the work she has been doing to help the judges find refuge in a safe country. Whilst it will take more than a generation to undo the harm and depravity perpetrated on all Afghanis by the Taliban, Marzia offers hope. She reminds us, we can play a part to enable women’s rights and equality to return in Afghanistan.