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Girl with a Gun: Love, Loss and the Fight for Freedom in Iran
Diana Nammi became a fighter with the Peshmerga when she was only seventeen. Originally known as Galavezh, she grew up in the Kurdish region of Iran in the 1960s and 70s. She became involved in politics as a teenager and, like many students, played a part in the Iranian Revolution of 1979. But the new Islamic regime tolerated no opposition, and after Kurdistan was brutally attacked, Galavezh found that she had no choice but to become a soldier in the famed military force.
She spent twelve years on the front line, and helped lead the struggle for women’s rights and equality for the Kurdish people, becoming one of the Iranian regime’s most wanted in the process. As well as being the startling account of Galavezh's time as a fighter, Girl with a Gun is also a narrative about family and resilience, with a tragic love story at its heart.
She spent twelve years on the front line, and helped lead the struggle for women’s rights and equality for the Kurdish people, becoming one of the Iranian regime’s most wanted in the process. As well as being the startling account of Galavezh's time as a fighter, Girl with a Gun is also a narrative about family and resilience, with a tragic love story at its heart.
- GenresNonfiction
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2020
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115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 21, 2020
Girl With A Gun is the memoir of Diana Nammi, who at 17 was a Peshmerga fighter in the battle against the radical Islamic regime.
This gives a real insight into her life during this terrible, turbulent time.
It tells of the effects of this conflict on the ordinary person in the Kurdish population and their day to day struggles.
So well written it’s clear Diana is an incredibly strong and brave woman and this tale is both tragic and heartbreaking at times and also a testament to what can be achieved. Thought provoking to say the least.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
This gives a real insight into her life during this terrible, turbulent time.
It tells of the effects of this conflict on the ordinary person in the Kurdish population and their day to day struggles.
So well written it’s clear Diana is an incredibly strong and brave woman and this tale is both tragic and heartbreaking at times and also a testament to what can be achieved. Thought provoking to say the least.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
April 21, 2020
Diana Nammi is the name taken on arrival in the UK by an amazing female Peshmerga fighter called Galavezh who lived through the Iranian revolution and gave up her teenage years to fight against oppression by the Shah and the Islamic theocracy in Iran. It is a memoir and you'll have to look elsewhere if your primary interest is the political scene in Iran during the revolution and the years of the Iran-Iraq war but if you're interested in a no-frills account of how it felt to live the life of a female Peshmerga fighter at this time you'll be richly rewarded with this book.
The book tells the tragedy of the fight between partisan factions which often distracted these brave opponents of the Iranian regime and of Galavezh and her comrades' flight from Saddam Hussein's chemical attacks and summary execution by the Iranian government's extremist religious supporters the Pasdaran.
We are lucky to have Diana in the UK. She set up IKWRO, a charity that supports women from the middle-East and Afghanistan who have been abused or are in danger of so-called "honour" crimes. She has been at the forefront of the fight to highlight these abuses here in the UK and to challenge the belief that standing up to defend women from these problems is meddling in legitimate cultural practices. When you see her being interviewed or collecting an award, it is hard to imagine this beautiful and sophisticated woman wielding a Kalashnikov or sleeping on the snow with only a handful of raisins for a meal but that is precisely what she, and her fellow female Peshmerga fighters, did.
The story is all the more timely as the Turkish government under Ergogan's leadership betray the brave male and female Kurdish YPG fighters who led the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. We should salute them. They will never give up and we owe them a debt of gratitude.
The book tells the tragedy of the fight between partisan factions which often distracted these brave opponents of the Iranian regime and of Galavezh and her comrades' flight from Saddam Hussein's chemical attacks and summary execution by the Iranian government's extremist religious supporters the Pasdaran.
We are lucky to have Diana in the UK. She set up IKWRO, a charity that supports women from the middle-East and Afghanistan who have been abused or are in danger of so-called "honour" crimes. She has been at the forefront of the fight to highlight these abuses here in the UK and to challenge the belief that standing up to defend women from these problems is meddling in legitimate cultural practices. When you see her being interviewed or collecting an award, it is hard to imagine this beautiful and sophisticated woman wielding a Kalashnikov or sleeping on the snow with only a handful of raisins for a meal but that is precisely what she, and her fellow female Peshmerga fighters, did.
The story is all the more timely as the Turkish government under Ergogan's leadership betray the brave male and female Kurdish YPG fighters who led the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq. We should salute them. They will never give up and we owe them a debt of gratitude.
August 24, 2020
This is a beautifully written memoir detailing the astonishing life of freedom fighter Galavezh (Diana Nammi). As a soldier and activist in Iranian Kurdistan, Galavezh travelled from village to village in between battles, informing women about their rights and encouraging communities to change social norms preventing women from participating in community life.
What made this book so compelling is the vivid detail that allows you to envision so clearly the moments where Galavezh barely escapes with her life, literally a wanted woman. You can see the harsh, snow covered mountains, so cold it makes her eyelashes freeze as she counts dwindling stores of ammunition and the number of fallen comrades from the battle hours beforehand. Every chapter draws you into the scene.
The structure is simple too, weaving together the events of her personal life, her political and military career and geo-political developments seamlessly.
A must read.
What made this book so compelling is the vivid detail that allows you to envision so clearly the moments where Galavezh barely escapes with her life, literally a wanted woman. You can see the harsh, snow covered mountains, so cold it makes her eyelashes freeze as she counts dwindling stores of ammunition and the number of fallen comrades from the battle hours beforehand. Every chapter draws you into the scene.
The structure is simple too, weaving together the events of her personal life, her political and military career and geo-political developments seamlessly.
A must read.
May 25, 2020
Diana Nammi, also known as Galavezh, grew up in the Kurdish region of Iran in the 1960s and 70s. The daughter of parents who fortunately believed that girls were to be cherished and educated as much as boys.
But the area in which Galavezh lived has never been destined for peace, and its people have had to struggle with discrimination and persecution for much of their history, in pursuit of their own independent homeland of Kurdistan.
Galavezh became involved in politics when she was student and was very active in the campaign for social change, especially the rights of women, playing a part in the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
But the hard-line Islamic regime that took its place was even more strict than that under the Shah, and when Kurdistan was brutally attacked, she knew it was her destiny to become a fighter and protect her homeland as a member of the Peshmerga, the famed Kurdish military force.
Galavezh spent twelve years on the front line as a member of the Peshmerga, as one of the very first women fighters in its ranks, leading the struggle for equality and women's rights for the Kurdish people, and becoming one of the Iranian regime's most wanted in the process.
This is the amazing story of a Girl With A Gun, determined to make the lives of her people better, but it is also a tale of love, family and great resilience in the face of terrible danger.
********************************************************
Girl With A Gun is a most fascinating and humbling story of a girl compelled to take up arms in the fight against discrimination and violence - and it is the first-ever account of its kind from a woman Peshmerga fighter.
I am of an age to vaguely remember the Iranian Revolution which deposed the Shah and the return of Ayatollah Khomeini to Iran, which ushered in an era of religious extremism and more years of war and persecution.
Although I don't remember much being made of the plight of the Kurdish people at the time, their struggle for a place to call home in an area that spans the borders of Iran, Iraq and Turkey has certainly been in the news in the following years. most memorably in relation to the horrific gassing of civilians by Saddam Hussein, and in terms of the bravery of the Kurdish fighters battling against ISIS - but there was so much I did not know about these people and especially the Peshmerga, until reading Galavezh's amazing account of her life among their ranks.
What really impresses me about this book is the utmost conviction of Galavezh and her young comrades to take up the fight against injustice, especially at such a young age, even in the face of enormous danger. This really sparked the Revolution that Iranians had been working towards in their aim for equality for all.
Unfortunately, the hoped for Revolution also led to a power vacuum that meant it was hijacked by those bent on bringing in an era of religious extremism, rather than the longed for social changes Galavezh and her friends had campaigned for. Instead of freedom, what came was harder times for the Kurdish people, violence and full-on war.
The downturn in conditions for her people, and the burning conviction inside, led Galavezh to take the decision to become a member of the Peshmerga and take up arms in the battle for freedom - and this was certainly not an easy task, as the overwhelmingly male membership of the fighting force were reluctant to allow women on the frontlines.
But Galavezh has never been afraid of confronting the powers that be, and her bravery and belief in herself and her fellow women meant she took up the fight for equality within the ranks of the Peshmerga with as much determination as she approaches everything in her life. She did not rest until she proved to her male comrades that she was just as able to be a soldier as they were, and she actually brought about significant changes in the make up of the Peshmerga that have left a great legacy. In fact, there are currently a thousand women in active frontline duty with the Peshmerga against ISIS in northern Iraq, and much of this is down to the drive led by Galavezh.
The twelve years Galavezh spent on the frontline were hard indeed and she found herself in near-death situations countless times, but she never shied from danger, even though many of her fellow fighters fell along the way. All through these years, she continued to campaign for women's rights and tried to help the women of the villages she found herself stationed in as much as possible - educating them about their rights and encouraging them to stand up for themselves.
As her bravery led to recognition and promotion among the Pershmerga, Galavezh became a target for the Iranian authorities and eventually she was left with no choice but to flee her homeland and seek political asylum in the UK, although she left her mark.
Part of her great belief in positive change has always been demonstrated by her work surrounding women's rights and she continues in this vein to this very day. In 2002, she set up her own charity, the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation, and she has been tireless in her campaigning, receiving much deserved recognition for her work from organisations such as the UNHCR.
But this is not just a story about campaigning and military action. There is so much here about the bonds of friendship, the ties of family and even romantic love that show the reader that this is the story of a woman with a great capacity to feel, as well as fight. There are some very touching moments in these pages - a lot of sadness and grief for what has been lost, but also happiness and the fulfillment of the wishes of the heart too.
Girl With A Gun is a most incredible, inspiring book. It leads me to think that we can all do a little more to help the lives of others, working towards positive change that can make a real difference - and I am sure that I will not be alone in feeling this after reading this book. Highly recommended!
But the area in which Galavezh lived has never been destined for peace, and its people have had to struggle with discrimination and persecution for much of their history, in pursuit of their own independent homeland of Kurdistan.
Galavezh became involved in politics when she was student and was very active in the campaign for social change, especially the rights of women, playing a part in the Iranian Revolution of 1979.
But the hard-line Islamic regime that took its place was even more strict than that under the Shah, and when Kurdistan was brutally attacked, she knew it was her destiny to become a fighter and protect her homeland as a member of the Peshmerga, the famed Kurdish military force.
Galavezh spent twelve years on the front line as a member of the Peshmerga, as one of the very first women fighters in its ranks, leading the struggle for equality and women's rights for the Kurdish people, and becoming one of the Iranian regime's most wanted in the process.
This is the amazing story of a Girl With A Gun, determined to make the lives of her people better, but it is also a tale of love, family and great resilience in the face of terrible danger.
********************************************************
Girl With A Gun is a most fascinating and humbling story of a girl compelled to take up arms in the fight against discrimination and violence - and it is the first-ever account of its kind from a woman Peshmerga fighter.
I am of an age to vaguely remember the Iranian Revolution which deposed the Shah and the return of Ayatollah Khomeini to Iran, which ushered in an era of religious extremism and more years of war and persecution.
Although I don't remember much being made of the plight of the Kurdish people at the time, their struggle for a place to call home in an area that spans the borders of Iran, Iraq and Turkey has certainly been in the news in the following years. most memorably in relation to the horrific gassing of civilians by Saddam Hussein, and in terms of the bravery of the Kurdish fighters battling against ISIS - but there was so much I did not know about these people and especially the Peshmerga, until reading Galavezh's amazing account of her life among their ranks.
What really impresses me about this book is the utmost conviction of Galavezh and her young comrades to take up the fight against injustice, especially at such a young age, even in the face of enormous danger. This really sparked the Revolution that Iranians had been working towards in their aim for equality for all.
Unfortunately, the hoped for Revolution also led to a power vacuum that meant it was hijacked by those bent on bringing in an era of religious extremism, rather than the longed for social changes Galavezh and her friends had campaigned for. Instead of freedom, what came was harder times for the Kurdish people, violence and full-on war.
The downturn in conditions for her people, and the burning conviction inside, led Galavezh to take the decision to become a member of the Peshmerga and take up arms in the battle for freedom - and this was certainly not an easy task, as the overwhelmingly male membership of the fighting force were reluctant to allow women on the frontlines.
But Galavezh has never been afraid of confronting the powers that be, and her bravery and belief in herself and her fellow women meant she took up the fight for equality within the ranks of the Peshmerga with as much determination as she approaches everything in her life. She did not rest until she proved to her male comrades that she was just as able to be a soldier as they were, and she actually brought about significant changes in the make up of the Peshmerga that have left a great legacy. In fact, there are currently a thousand women in active frontline duty with the Peshmerga against ISIS in northern Iraq, and much of this is down to the drive led by Galavezh.
The twelve years Galavezh spent on the frontline were hard indeed and she found herself in near-death situations countless times, but she never shied from danger, even though many of her fellow fighters fell along the way. All through these years, she continued to campaign for women's rights and tried to help the women of the villages she found herself stationed in as much as possible - educating them about their rights and encouraging them to stand up for themselves.
As her bravery led to recognition and promotion among the Pershmerga, Galavezh became a target for the Iranian authorities and eventually she was left with no choice but to flee her homeland and seek political asylum in the UK, although she left her mark.
Part of her great belief in positive change has always been demonstrated by her work surrounding women's rights and she continues in this vein to this very day. In 2002, she set up her own charity, the Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation, and she has been tireless in her campaigning, receiving much deserved recognition for her work from organisations such as the UNHCR.
But this is not just a story about campaigning and military action. There is so much here about the bonds of friendship, the ties of family and even romantic love that show the reader that this is the story of a woman with a great capacity to feel, as well as fight. There are some very touching moments in these pages - a lot of sadness and grief for what has been lost, but also happiness and the fulfillment of the wishes of the heart too.
Girl With A Gun is a most incredible, inspiring book. It leads me to think that we can all do a little more to help the lives of others, working towards positive change that can make a real difference - and I am sure that I will not be alone in feeling this after reading this book. Highly recommended!
November 16, 2024
A powerful book about a powerful strong woman, fighting for her country, her people and women's rights - and continuing to do so in UK.
Read
March 18, 2020Having Kurdish friends I am not quite ignorant of the situation for the Kurds. This is a book well worth the read. It's not a hard read, only the name of the towns and villages puzzled me a little. The really true story is terrible and looking at the dates, and talking with Iranians running away, and trying to seek asylum in the UK This book brings the whole experience into sharp focus. Why is this nation constantly abandoned, persecuted and used as per recent history via a certain president? The other big area in the book is the whole treatment of woman, yes in Iran but you can not help feeling this is a world problem, and although in some places its got better as I often say ' the worst enemy of better is very good' we should not relax. This book certainly makes that point.
August 12, 2020
A powerful account of the Iranian revolution – which steered war, persecution and religious extremism – through the eyes of one the first female Peshmerga fighters. An absolutely astounding woman with an emotional yet mighty story. The writing style was not my favourite, but that can be excused as that’s not really the reason you’d choose this book.
May 25, 2020
Powerful, intense and moving account of Dianna Nammi's life in Iranian Kurdistan from her birth in the sixties to her escape in 1995 to the UK with her daughter Tara. Full review on blog 26th May 2020.
April 18, 2020
so important
May 28, 2020
Bit boring to the end... Which is worrying in a sense.
Read
June 22, 2020So glad I read this. It’s the true story of Dianna Nammi (known as Galavezh) a woman who has made lifelong sacrifices to fight for justice for the Kurdish people and equality for women. She’s a warrior and an inspiration, unafraid to pick up and gun and use it. But the book does not shy away from telling us about her everyday struggles to form friendships, maintain a relationship with her family, and find love and happiness. It’s an unflinching account of one woman’s courage and dedication, vividly, movingly and beautifully written with co-writer Karen Attwood. And it’s a fight that Galavezh continues.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews