Zarifa: A Woman’s Battle in a Man’s World

A moving and inspiring memoir by Afghanistan’s youngest female mayor and campaigner for human rights, as seen in Netflix’s In Her Hands documentary.



‘Zarifa will break your heart’ Christina Lamb, author of Our Bodies, Their Battlefields and I Am Malala



‘Incredible’ Stylist



‘In this earnest and fiery memoir, an activist and politician from Afghanistan recounts how her country’s instability marked her life’ New York Times



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.



‘Zarifa’s words, like her life, are an act of courage, weaving heartache with hope’ Shubhangi Swarup, author of Latitudes of Longing



‘This gripping book can be read at one go and surely is a must buy’ Telegraph (India)



‘Frank and impassioned, Ghafari’s narrative spotlights the power of activism… a remarkable story of perseverance and resilience’ Publishers Weekly

Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Imprint: Virago UK
Publication date: 30/01/2024