Born in Kabul in 1991, Niloofar Rahmani had a dream: to be Afghanistan´s first woman pilot. The circumstances looked encouraging: 2010 was the first time since the Soviets when women were allowed to enter military forces. She took a chance, breaking through social and traditional barriers, but it come with a price: ´As an Afghan woman I dared to dream and there were some who believed I should be punished for it, perhaps even killed´.
Currently based in the USA after requesting political asylum at 28, Rahmani wrote a memoir together with Adam Sikes where she is telling her story in simple words that resonate with the fate of many women from Afghanistan. As her achievements started to accumulate - the first solo flight in her class, Afghanistan´s first female fixed-wing air pilot and captain- , so were the pressure on her family, who since 2015 is on hiding. The reason? She dared to dream for more.
Open Skies is a hearbreaking account of a life put on hold due to the religiously extremist government in Kabul perpetuating traditional mindsets. In the Kabul that once was the ´Paris of Central Europe´ women are prevented from attending school and stepping down the traditional roles they were assigned may be punishable by death.
Rahmani is explaining her story through social, cultural and political details that not only put things into context, but also help understanding the terrible fate of women and girls in Afghanistan right now. Sometimes it feels shameful to realize how often we take for granted rights and achievements without realizing the tremedous professional and personal struggle women in other parts of the worlds are going through.
I´ve found the book humbling and inspiring and I consider it a recommended read to anyone interested to have a realistic account on the story of women in Afghanistan, including and particularly decision makers and academics.
Rating: 5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
No comments:
Post a Comment