Book Review 82: With Ash on their Faces by Cathy Otten.

With Ash on Their Faces: Yezidi Women and the Islamic State by Cathy Otten is one of the best books that I have read this year. This book is based on extensive interviews with survivors of the Yezidi population. It is a work of extreme research and analysis. It highlights and brings forward the reality of the war-torn areas of Iraq. ISIS's genocidal attack on the Yezidi population of northern Iraq in the summer of 2014 brought the world's attention to the followers of faith with a long history of persecution. Men were killed, and the Yezidi women were taken to the Islamic state to be sold. 

This book narrates the plight of Yezidi women and children. 

Who are the Yezidis? Yazidis are an endogamous and mostly Kurmanji-speaking group of contested ethnic origin, indigenous to Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The majority of Yazidis remaining in the Middle East today live in Iraq, primarily in the Nineveh and Dohuk governorates.

In August 2014, the Yazidis became victims of genocide by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in its campaign to rid Iraq and its neighbouring countries of non-Islamic influences (Source: Wikipedia). 

With Ash on Their Faces presents a unique and profoundly moving account of the privations and resistance of those enslaved by a monstrous regime. The real-life accounts of the Yezidi women are heart-wrenching. The author has done some extensive research and presented a first-hand reporting of the pathetic condition of the Yezidi population. But the author has not just portrayed their difficulties and the constant turmoil that they are a part of, she also describes how brave and courageous these women are. 

This book is extremely informative. The society needs more books like this so that people get to know what is going on around them in the world. The headlines of newspapers move on after a few days of hue and cry, and so does the issue from the minds of the people. But the people who are the victims- their trouble persists. They continue to live their lives under constant fear and pressure. The account of the various Yezidi women like Leila, Nadima (names have been changed) gives the readers goosebumps and is shocking. Tears welled up in my eyes as I read them.

The author has done a commendable job in bringing forth an issue like this. Her narrative style is informative and detailed. This book has had a huge impact on me. 

The world needs peace and not war. This needs to be understood by people. One cannot even imagine how devastating war can be. We need to do away with all the hatred. Only peace can bring prosperity.

I absolutely recommend this book to everyone. It is a must-read!

About the author: Cathy Otten is a British writer and journalist based in Iraqi Kurdistan. She writes for a range of publications including the Independent, Newsweek, BBC, TIME, Vogue, Politico, Monocle, the Guardian and the Telegraph. She is a regular commentator on TV and radio, talking about Iraq and the war with ISIS.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars.

Publisher: Fingerprint Publishing.

First Published: September 2019

Pages: 240

Price: ₹299/-

Buy this book from Amazon.

Thanks to the publisher, Fingerprint Publishing, for the review copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.