Fighting for Freedom

Fleeing persecution in Iraq, a Kurdish mother will stop at nothing to give her children a life of freedom

As parents, we only want to provide the best for our children. We ensure their safety and well-being to give them a fair chance of achieving a bright and prosperous future. But for those who are fighting for their existence, what kind of future can their children have?

Born in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Razaw Ghafour was a young mother facing a life of persecution under Saddam Hussein's rule. With limited prospects, Ghafour left Iraq in search of a better life in America with her husband and children. It was a difficult decision to leave her beloved extended family, but given what was at stake, she made the choice to protect her children's future.

In Fighting for Freedom, Ghafour relates the personal struggles she experienced as a Kurd in Iraq. Offering unique insight into her people's long struggle with statelessness, the political climate, and clashes, under the rule of Saddam Hussein, and America's response. Recounting the deliberations, planning, and actions that led up to the family's move, Ghafour ultimately relied on her protective instincts as a mother to muster the courage to leave behind everything she had ever known to afford her children the opportunity of a life of freedom.

A must-read book for anyone interested in Kurdish culture and Middle Eastern conflicts, Ghafour's story is a timely reminder of what we are willing to sacrifice for freedom.