Customer Reviews

Hope and Despair: My Struggle to Free My Husband, Maher Arar

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Like many Canadians, I witnessed the unfolding of Maher Arar's story with a mixture of shock and shame, feelings of fear yielding to incredulity, outrage and disgust. The so-called war on terror and the subsequent stifling of civil liberties has made it easy to feel despair, and has given us very little about which to feel hopeful.

Here is a book that does give us hope, whether we are worthy of such redemption or not. Monia Mazigh's account of her battle is one of courage and conviction. She chose to take on the cruelty and indifference of government officials, jailers and journalists armed with intelligence, perseverance and faith in the rule of law. Her choice to keep to herself the terrible emotional cost of her struggle is preserved in the narrative of this wonderful book, but not so completely as to prevent the reader from frequently being moved to tears.

This is a book that must be read and re-read, for the sake of Maher Arar and Monia Mazigh and their children, and for the sake of all our children, who share an instinctive understanding of justice and deserve to understand the meaning and the value of human rights and the terrible cost we ultimately pay when we are willing to sacrifice innocent individuals.

John Kittridge had already said much of what I would say, and in better words. Instead, I say that I read Dr. Mazigh's book in an evening and was deeply moved. I think that women especially will be able to relate to her struggle and wonder, "Could something like this happen to my family?"

The following quotation from the epilogue is worth repeating, so that everyone knows and so that we do not forget.

"Human rights will always be fragile - this is demonstrated again and again, even in democratic societies. We cannot afford to let down our guard." -- Monia Mazigh

I enjoyed this True story, one of the best I have ever read about Human courage and faith. The timing of this book makes no doubts that a positive change is occurring. I appreciate Dr Mazigh's sincere devotion to defend Human rights and speak out against injustice. The years to come will reveal many elements about why all that happened: The sep 11 Tragedy, Maher Arar's Tragedy..the Evil hands that tries to manipulate public opinion. After every night, there is a bright day waiting. After all, this book is a message of hope.