GULLALI OF PANJSHIR VALLEY A Novel - Softcover

REHMAN, ZIA

9781521300015: GULLALI OF PANJSHIR VALLEY A Novel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1521300011 ISBN 13: 9781521300015

Publisher: Independently published, 2015

A POWERFUL TALE OF ADVENTURE, ROMANCE, AND ONE WOMAN'S FIGHT FOR MUSLIM WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ISLAMIC COUNTRIES. To Gullali, Panjshir Valley, eleven thousand feet above sea level, north of Kabul, Afghanistan, is heaven on Earth. An educated young Afghan woman, she is blessed to have a father who has raised her to believe women have the same rights as men. Madly in love with her childhood romance, all seems romantic in Gullali's life. Into her blissful days sounds of cannon echo from beyond the mountains as the Soviets invade her beloved homeland. Though danger surrounds the peaceful valley, Gullali and her people prepare to battle the invaders. After ten long years, the Soviets leave Afghanistan in defeat. Though a triumph, power turns to greed, and order in Afghanistan begins to wane. Amidst the turmoil, the Taliban gains control of the country. Under their rule, women are the first casualty in the name of Islam. Panjshir Valley is no longer the haven it once was to Gullali. Rumors of a more tolerant neighboring Pakistan beckon her and her husband to leave, but tragedy strikes her journey and Gullali comes to realize the Taliban is just as prevalent in Pakistan. Captive she suffers both physically and mentally from men immersed in gender bias and hypocrisy. Fueled by the abuse she faces, Gullali is determined to fight for women's rights, education, and freedom from male abuse in the name of Muslim culture and religion. Using her story, she is determined to create awareness among the women of Pakistan, hoping one day to return home to do the same in her country.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

From the Author:

My novel, "Gullali of Panjshir Valley," is inspired by a true incident. I was deeply moved by the tragic event, and decided to write this novel, representing fictional charaters and action with some degree of realism. I strongly feel for the young women who are killed in the name of honor, because they wish to marry for love, much against parents' wishes. They are killed by her father, her uncles, and her brothers. Sadly, Muslim society accepts it as Islamic tradition and culture. The government keeps mum for fear of backlash from clerics and the community.

From the Inside Flap:

1. Gullali stood five foot nine inches tall, strong-boned, strong-willed, curvaceous, translucent skin, and light of foot. Her light brown hair framed her oval face. Her long dark eyelashes rimmed her large vivacious hazel eyes guarding a chiseled nose. Her easy sunshine smile complemented her overall personality.........Gullali was in love.........she giggled and blushed when she saw Amjad gazing at her from his humble cottage across the river........she recalled the evening when Amjad suggested they kiss on the lips and she brushed him aside saying it was an absurd idea......... Her love for Amjad was everlasting, she promised herself.........the Societ invasion of the country was ruinning her dreams.2. Haider's third son, Rahim, was an outdoors man, a hunter, an adventurer, horse riding, and reckless behavior. He mastered the skill of riding his mare saddleless and shooting targets on the gallop. He was a cheeky young lad too. His father had sent him to England to study agriculture, where he also learnt about dating and love, besides disrespect for his elders.3. "Baba, jihad has always been considered holy war against non-believers. Even history books mention this," said Akram. "I know they do, unfortunately. It's a misnomer, a catchword, lure, generally used by overzealous rulers to garner support to conquer foreign lands. A call for jihad was also made to fight Christian armies in the wars of the Crusades. Both warring factions used religion to incite their people to war, the Church for their God, the mosque for their Allah. The real objective was none but politics and territory."4. "The Roodies are coming," cried Akram to his men as the first tank rolled in through the narrow corridor, followed hastily by more. Lying low behind the safety of large boulders, Akram and his men held their trigger........5. The crowd at the park was big.....the entertainment-starved male citizens of Kabul had gathered around a waist-high pit dug in the ground, where a woman in a blue burqa sat crying and praying for mercy..........a mullah stood by, haranguing quotes from Sharia law condemning her sins........ He raised his hand with the air of a king.......the stoning started..........6. "Aah! Women don't understand. Men are by nature polygamist. Allah has blessed them with excessive testosterone. They need sex to keep them happy, relaxed, and healthy." "O yeah? What about women? Should they stay without sex, depressed and unhealthy?" "Islam doesn't mention that." "Of course it doesn't. Islam is a man's religion."

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