Malalai Joya launches memoir in the UK, exposes 'the big lie of Afghanistan'

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Malalai Joya has just completed a one-week visit to London, launching the UK edition of her memoir -- Raising My Voice: The extraordinary story of the Afghan woman who dares to speak out [3]. Joya used every opportunity during her brief stay to educate the British public about the plight of occupied Afghanistan. Having worked with Joya in writing this book, I also made a trip over to the UK and participated in some of the public events.

The largest forum Joya spoke to was organized by the UK Stop the War Coalition [4] and also featured a soldier coming out against the war. There was also a packed interactive event at the Frontline Club [5], as well as a book launch at Asia House hosted by Ebury Publishing. [6]

Joya received prominent media coverage during her short visit to the UK. The Independent ran a feature story on 'The woman who will not be silenced.' [7] Last weekend, she had a powerful comment piece in The Guardian denouncing 'The big lie of Afghanistan' [8]:

"This week, US vice-president Joe Biden asserted that 'more loss of life [is] inevitable [9]' in Afghanistan, and that the ongoing occupation is in the 'national interests' of both the US and the UK."

"I have a different message to the people of Britain. I don't believe it is in your interests to see more young people sent off to war, and to have more of your taxpayers' money going to fund an occupation that keeps a gang of corrupt warlords and drug lords in power in Kabul."

Joya's visit coincided with a renewed and polarized debate in the country about the UK's key role in the war in Afghanistan. After the U.S., of course, they have the second most troops on the ground. And the UK has now suffered more fatalities in Afghanistan than they have in Iraq. The war is unavoidable in Britain, yet with very few exceptions politicians have avoided joining the anti-war majority -- even as public doubts about the occupation appear to be growing. A new poll [10] shows that a strong majority of Brits think the war is 'unwinnable' and want the troops brought home.

It's always an energizing experience to be around Malalai Joya. At the book launch, one of the women who made the documentary Enemies of Happiness [11] -- which followed Joya in her native Farah province through her historic 2005 election campaign -- talked about how what really struck her about Joya is the way all of her waking hours are devoted to her cause, giving herself 'entirely' to the struggle and to all those who ask for some of her time. Her preturnatural energy and determination to fight for what she believes in is inspiring -- truly a profile in both physical and political courage.

Earlier in July, Joya completed a successful book launch tour across Australia. The North American edition of her book is due to be published in October by Simon & Schuster [12], and a book tour is planned for the United States and Canada in the fall. The book is already slated to be translated and published in over a dozen languages.

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