Living In Hell: A True Odyssey of a Woman's Struggle in Islamic Iran Against Personal and Political Forces [Anglais] [Relié]

A young Iranian woman, Ghazal Omid, has written a courageous and powerful book entitled "Living in Hell: A True Odyssey of a Woman's Struggle in Islamic Iran Against Personal and Political Forces" (488 pp., Park Avenue Publisher). As Loretta Napoleoni has written in her forward, "Omid's terrifying life story encapsulates all the extraordinary elements of growing up in a far-away land of which Westerners know very little". Indeed, Omid masterfully highlights through her nightmarish personal tale not only the continued violence against women in her country, but also provides a valuable account of the historical events of Iran before and after the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini. She gives a first hand account of the dysfunctional nature of Iranian society that has been transformed by those she defines as "mindless fanatics who have taken the Iranian people as fools for the past 26 years and who", according to Omid, "are waiting to do the same with the rest of the world". Although Omid now lives in Canada, the publication of her book has made her a target of numerous death threats and her website livinginhell.com has become a technical battleground that is continually hacked by those who oppose her and her criticisms. When probed about these events, Omid laughs nervously and says, "I'm not surprised", adding "what do you expect from those who don't tolerate dissent"? What are the main criticisms of those who oppose you and what you've written? "Most of the criticism comes from people living in Islamic societies. They criticize me for writing about my own personal life - the fact that I've written about being raped by own brother and about growing up in a culture where I had no way of speaking up. They call me a whore and keep saying that I'm nothing but an opportunist. Despite being hassled by my compatriots and other Muslims, I must say that non-Muslims and non-Iranians have been very supportive". You are very critical of the mullahs in Iran, but not of Islam? In your opinion, is it possible to separate religion from politics in the Islamic Republic of Iran? "I'm not critical of Islam, but it's very difficult to separate the two in Iran. I'm not only criticizing Islam, but any religion that is exploited by its practitioners. I say that I believe in God, but only the God that created me and not the God that these mullahs have created for me and tied to a political agenda. I draw a specific line between religion and power". How crucial are women's rights to any serious transformation of the current regime? "They are very important, but you have to remember that women in Iran have been manipulated for so many years that they often don't see themselves as a force anymore - although they are. If any change is to occur in Iran it is in the hands of women. I'm trying to encourage them that it is their right to demand greater rights. I have a saying that I often use that nobody would put your right on a golden plate and offer it to you. If it's yours - you have to rightfully demand it. It is crucial that Iranian women stand up and say you know what, we're fed up with you, we're a force and we're going to kick you out, but they haven't gotten that far yet. It doesn't help that they are often brought down and treated as dirt. I've seen girls being married off at age nine. These girls grow up to become nothing and all they know is to serve men. I wonder how a future generation of women can be independent and free thinking individuals who could stand up to the regime when they're conditioned in this way. Unfortunately, this practice continues to be encouraged by the regime". Amy K. Rosenthal NOTE: An Italian version of this article appeared in the Italian newspaper, Il Foglio, on 1 November 2005.