TARIHI JIVANT MI (Marathi)

WHEN SOUAD WAS SEVENTEEN SHE FELL IN LOVE. IN HER WEST BANK VILLAGE, AS IN SO MANY OTHERS, SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE IS CONSIDERED A GRAVE DISHONOR TO ONE`S FAMILY AND IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH. THIS WAS HER CRIME. HER BROTHER-IN-LAW WAS GIVEN THE TASK OF METING OUT HER PUNISHMENT. ONE MORNING WHILE SOUAD WAS WASHING THE FAMILY`S CLOTHES, HE POURED GASOLINE OVER HER AND SET HER ON FIRE. MIRACULOUSLY, SHE SURVIVED, RESCUED BY WOMEN OF HER VILLAGE, WHO PUT OUT THE FLAMES AND TOOK HER TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL. HORRIBLY BURNED OVER SEVENTY PERCENT OF HER BODY AND STILL DENOUNCED BY HER FAMILY, SOUAD WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE THE CARE SHE NEEDED ONLY AFTER THE INTERVENTION OF A EUROPEAN AID WORKER. NOW IN PERMANENT EXILE FROM HER HOMELAND, SHE HAS DECIDED TO TELL HER STORY AND REVEAL THE BARBARITY OF A PRACTICE THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. BURNED ALIVE ...IS THE FIRST TRUE ACCOUNT EVER PUBLISHED BY A VICTIM OF AN "HONOR CRIME." SOUAD`S INSPIRING TESTIMONY IS A SHOCKING, MOVING, AND HARROWING STORY OF CRUELTY AND INCOMPARABLE COURAGE...AND AN INSPIRING CALL TO ACTION TO END A HEINOUS TRADITION.