A poignant and inspiring memoir by Afghanistan's youngest female mayor and devoted human rights activist. As featured in the NETFLIX documentary IN HER HANDS.

'Earnest and fiery' NEW YORK TIMES

'An act of courage' SHUBHANGI SWARUP, AUTHOR OF LATITUDES OF LONGING

'Zarifa Ghafari's story is one of strength in the face of adversity'

LAYLA MORAN, MP


Zarifa Ghafari was two years old when the Taliban banned girls from schools. She was seven when the American airstrikes began. She was twenty-four when she became the youngest and one of the first female mayors in Maidan Shahr, Afghanistan. An extremist mob barred her from her office and assassins tried to kill her six times. Through it all, Zarifa promoted peace and tried to lift up women, despite constant fear for herself and her family.

Written with honesty, pain and, ultimately, hope, Zarifa is an astonishing memoir that offers an unparalleled perspective of the last two decades in Afghanistan from a citizen, daughter, woman and mayor.


'A searingly honest, profoundly courageous memoir of one fearless woman's fight for her homeland'

KIRKUS (STARRED REVIEW)

'Anyone wanting to know the grim reality of being a woman in Afghanistan and trying to make a difference could not find a more illuminating book'

CHRISTINA LAMB, OBE, AUTHOR OF OUR BODIES, THEIR BATTLEFIELDS, AND I AM MALALA