Mayada : Daughter of Iraq by Jean Sasson (Dutton)

Jean Sasson has lived and worked in the Middle East for a number of years so when the opportunity presented itself to visit Iraq after the First Gulf War, she could not resist the temptation. As she was the author of a book that criticized then President, Saddam Hussein, she knew that no government official would issue her a visa. So, she wrote directly to the President and along with her letter she sent a copy of her book, The Rape of Kuwait. In her letter, she told the President that she didn’t agree with his invasion of Kuwait but was “concerned about the well-being of Iraqis living under sanctions.” She wanted to see for herself “how the Iraqi were faring.”

Surprisingly, she was contacted by Baghdad and told her visa would be granted through the U.N. Mission in New York City. Once Sasson was in Baghdad, she was adamant about being assigned a female interpreter and was introduced to Mayada. The two became fast friends and kept in touch. A year later, Mayada disappeared without a trace. No one answered her phone, she didn’t return any of the letters Sasson wrote her and then one day, Sasson receives a call from Mayada who informs her that she was in “the can”, a euphemism for prison. It wasn’t until Mayada escaped Iraq that Sasson could ask her what happened.

Mayada : Daughter of Iraq is part biography but mostly focuses on Mayada’s life after her arrest and what she and other women had to deal with during their incarceration. Sasson gives a voice to Mayada so she can tell the world the truth about Saddam Hussein and his Ba’ath Party.

Mayada Al-Askari is the daughter and grand-daughter of a prominent Iraqi family. She lived a life of privilege even under the reign of Saddam Hussein who she has met on a few occasions. However, Mayada was arrested by the Mukhabarat, the Iraqi Intelligence Service and was taken to the notorious Balladiyat Prison. She wasn’t told why she was arrested nor was she given a trial. 

Mayada describes to us in graphic detail the torture she and the other women endure. It is not for the faint of heart. They suffer beatings, burnings, the cutting off of certain body parts and rape. These are just a few of the injustices that took place behind the prison’s locked doors.

A month after being arrested, Mayada was told that she would be released, again, with no explanations whatsoever. The other women made Mayada promise to call their relatives and children to let them know where they were being held and which guard to bribe for their release. They also said to her, “You must swear by Allah that one day you will tell the world what has happened in this cell.” 

It took courage for Mayada to come forward to keep her promise to the women who were left behind in prison. It’s a shame what despots and their willing partners are capable of doing. What still baffles me is why the United Nations let Saddam Hussein stay in power. It appears as if the United Nations have forgotten Lord Acton’s words, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” We can only hope that Iraq doesn’t see another leader like Saddam Hussein in its future.~Ernie Hoyt