Guilty by Association: Hope in the Midst of Hopelessness in Iraq

by Peter Twele, Samir son of Babylon

Samir’s teen years were fraught with atypical teen issues. For him, they were years filled with forced social exclusion, the loss of his brothers to Saddam Hussein’s governing policies, as well as Samir’s eventual imprisonment. And circumstances for him and his family continued on that downward spiral throughout his early adulthood, filling them all with continual fear and misery. Samir’s survival instincts, ingenuity, faith, and hope, convinced that he had a future worth living for, carried him through. A few key people, in the right place at the right time, along with a number of miracles, which could only be explained as God’s timely intervention, carried him forward.
For those who are facing adversities in their own lives and are losing faith and hope, this personal account of insurmountable struggles which ends in ultimate triumph, can hopefully serve as an encouragement that there is very likely a light at the end of the tunnel for them as well. Never give up!

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2021

About the author

Peter Twele first moved to the Middle East in 1984, where he resided and traveled extensively for over 11 years. After studying Arabic for a number of years, he then worked and did research through a number of institutions in the Middle East, including the Phonetics Research Center at the University of Jordan, the American Center of Oriental Research, the American Institute for Yemeni Studies, and the Yemen Centre for Research and Studies. He has also taught in the Linguistics programs at both Trinity Western University in Langley, BC, and at the University of Texas in Arlington. To this day he continues with his desire to build bridges of understanding between the West and the Middle East ... mostly by trying to help Westerners understand and appreciate Middle East cultures.

Reviews

[Harvey Burian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Story of Courage and Effort to Never Give Up

This true account of Samir an Iraqi man who suffered so greatly under a repressive regime and yet showed the courage and hope to make the best of his life and finally escape to a new country is one that will keep you reading to the end. It is a story that, though difficult to fathom in its cruel and inhumane events, reminds us that there is always hope for those who trust in the Almighty. It is a story that needed to be told and with the help of Pete Twele, author of several other Middle Eastern accounts, comes to life. Highly recommended.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Peter has done a great job of taking the reader inside Iraq during Saddam Hussein's reign. It's a gripping tale of one Iraqi man's struggle to survive and to ultimately experience hope even in the midst of great suffering. I was inspired!