Interview with Diana Nammi about her life as a Peshmerga and #GirlWithAGun #books #TwitterKurds #womensrights inews.co.uk/news/long-read…

I've just finished reading Girl with a Gun, the story of Diana Nammi and 'love, loss and the fight for freedom in Iran. It's a fascinating read with many themes particularly the issue of Women's Rights. Highly recommended, and a few quotes follow. 1/

'It was the custom to put a girl's age as two years older than her real age so that she could be married younger. Parents preferred to marry their daughters before the age of sixteen if possible, before they started to find love for themselves' 2/

'The first public protest against the Islamic Republic was the magnificent women's protest against the hijab on 8 March 1979 on International Women's Day in Tehran and other cities.' 3/ [image from Hengameh Golestan, not in the book]

'I started to shake but managed to stop myself from crying. I had to be strong. I was a revolutionary woman. I should not cry in front of a Peshmerga.' 4/

'We Peshmerga girls knew in our hearts that it was not right that our marriages should also be arranged. We talked to each other about how wrong it was and that we shouldn't be controlled in this way.' 5/

'Everywhere my team went, we talked about freedom and equality ... We discussed women's rights, and the importance of creating a system to protect women, and how we must put an end to discriminatory practices.' 6/

'I used to think that in European countries women's rights would be respected, fully implemented, and you would never hear of violence against women and girls' An excellent book - do buy it and read. By Diana Nammi , founder IKWRO Co-writer Karen Attwood 7/end

@JoHughes27 Caroline Criado Perez Thanks! Yes we managed to see #GirlWithAGun in front window of Waterstones one week before lockdown! 😬 It’s here amazon.co.uk/Girl-Gun-Love-…

@JoHughes27 Caroline Criado Perez Diana has fought for women’s rights her whole life. Here is a video about her life and the book. #GirlWithAGun #womensrights

Round up of #GirlWithAGun #blogtour Thanks to Joanna Park 🌈 @unbounders IKWRO overtherainbowbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/05/28/blo…

@RosieCawkwell #amreadinghistory #memoir rosemariecawkwell.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/rev…

Sue at Brown Flopsy's Book Burrow 🐇📖 brownflopsy.blogspot.com/2020/05/girl-w…

@joycorkery joyfulantidotes.com/2020/05/20/boo…

Lesley Budge 🖤 #amreading orlando-books.blog/category/memoi…

Help get Diana Nammi ‘s important story of her lifelong fight for women’s rights in Iran and in the UK out into the world. @unbounders

Women’s rights campaigner Diana Nammi talks about why her new book #girlwithagun is so important. @unbounders IKWRO #amreading #iran

Yay another great five star review for #GirlWithAGun #amreading #memoir #iran #twitterkurds @ikwro amazon.co.uk/Girl-Gun-Love-…

I’m thrilled to see the Prime Minister has my new book Girl With A Gun about my life in Iran on his reading list. #unbounders #karenAAtwood

I said: ‘Stand next to the tree and I’ll take your picture.’