The Daughter of Kurdland

ENGLISH EDITION

NovoReads Group is presenting the memoir of Dr. Widad Akreyi, winner of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award.

Buy your copy on AMAZON.

Through an inspiring memoir, Dr. Widad Akreyi takes the reader on a fascinating journey from her childhood in Kurdistan to her relocation to the northern hemisphere and finally her rise onto the world stage as award-winning humanitarian and champion for human rights.

Description

In this intimate and riveting narrative, Dr. Widad Akreyi, an emblem of peace and courage, chronicles her extraordinary story. The best-known symbol of Kurdish culture describes for the first time what it takes to make history.

Born the daughter of the East, destined to be a daughter of the West, Widad is a loyal daughter of the world. Nothing could stop her from serving – not persecution, or violence, or wars. Not even a cardiac arrest and eleven surgical operations.

In a world where indifference and divisions abound, Dr. Widad Akreyi stands out as a breath of fresh air. Ranked among the most influential public figures, including JF Kennedy, Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu and Dalai Lama, she is an internationally-acclaimed leader, global health expert, author, and peacebuilder in the finest sense of the word. By embracing her diverse identities and using her platform to promote meaningful change, she is determined not to let pain define her future.

The Daughter of Kurdland is the full sweep of her illuminating life, public and private, compellingly and touchingly told in a book both wise and witty, both timeless and timely.

Widad wears her heart on her sleeve and recounts the events that forced her to leave Kurdland for the picturesque northern hemisphere, deftly weaving the intricacies of identity, solidarity, and the pursuit of passion-driven purpose. She brings her whole self to her readers: her innermost joys, her disappointments, and valuable lessons learned.

Exquisite in its details and insights, The Daughter of Kurdland is intensely readable, a vibrant reminder of why Widad inspires others to achieve greatness and how her legacy is a shining example of leadership when leadership matters.

Book Trailers in English

Book Trailer in Kurdish

Description of the first edition of The Daughter of Kurdland

The Kurdish activist who became a global icon

A powerful portrayal of a little school girl who defies Saddam Hussein’s regime, survives Anfal Genocide and goes on to become an award-winning champion for human rights.

By combining crisp prose with utterly enthralling storytelling, Widad pulls back the curtain to reveal in vivid detail and with unflinching honesty the experiences that have shaped her — from her childhood in Kurdistan region where she was doomed to persecution, to her years as a university student undertaking the grueling task of chronicling crimes against humanity when she was just 17 years old, to her phenomenal resilience in exile. The Daughter of Kurdland takes the reader on an intimate journey to uncover deep truths that are valid in any age but especially so in our present context. Sparkling with wit and wisdom, this book poses universal questions: Should we always do what others tell us to do? How important is it to defy norms? How much of ourselves should we be willing to compromise for the sake of others? And how much should we be prepared to pay?

A profile in courage, Widad is today an international icon for peace and women empowerment, and is the youngest winner of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, ranked among world-renowned figures like John F. Kennedy, Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu and Dalai Lama. A testament to the power of human endurance, The Daughter of Kurdland will inspire and surprise men and women alike.

About The Author

A multiple award-winner, Dr. Widad Akreyi is renowned humanitarian and champion for human rights and has become a global voice for the voiceless, first and foremost the women and girls abducted, sold and enslaved in the Middle East.

Born in Kurdland, Widad lives now in the West and holds a Master’s degree in genetics and a PhD in global health and cancer epidemiology. She has been awarded the Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) Peace and Freedom Award for her lifelong commitment to peace, justice and dignity for all, the 2018 International Woman Harmony Award (Human Rights Award) for devoting her life to defending human rights, the Davenport Mayor Medal for her lifetime contribution to defending human rights, the International Pfeffer Peace Award for her worldwide efforts in support of peace and justice, and the 2013 Special Prize for bridging the gap between cultures.