Shakti co-founding member releases book


Thu 21 Apr 2011

Shakti co-founding member and activist for ethnic womens’ rights Farida Sultana has released her story titled ‘Purple Dandelion: A Muslim ...

Shakti co-founding member and activist for ethnic womens’ rights Farida Sultana has released her story titled ‘Purple Dandelion: A Muslim Women’s Struggle against Violence and Oppression.’

The book Purple Dandelion is the true story of Farida Sultana, an extraordinary Moslem woman and single mother, whose remarkable life began in Bangladesh when as a young girl, she found herself in conflict with her traditional family values and the Islamic culture that prevents girls and women from learning music and arts. Later her arranged marriage to a doctor at the age of 18 took her to war-torn Iran with her husband and young daughter, then to the UK, and finally to New Zealand. Her personal journey included episodes of domestic violence as she sought to find herself and her true role in the world.

Farida Sultana has been working in the area of violence against women for over 17 years. She first became associated with Shakti AID UK as a survivor of violence and then as a volunteer. In 1995 she started Shakti in New Zealand. Farida is an advocate for various migrant and refugee issues, works closely with the wider communities and also serves on various boards in New Zealand.

A percentage of the proceeds from sales will be donated to the Women Against Violence project to establish women’s refuges in Asia and the Middle East.

For more information about Shakti, please visit www.shakti.org.nz

Farida’s book has received widespread coverage in the media. Please visit the link below for coverage in the Sunday Star Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/4838535/An-independent...

Purple Dandelion is available for purchase at http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Purple-Dandelion-Farida-Sultana-Shila-Na...

Farida is speaking at an upcoming Writers Festival in Auckland on Friday 13th May at 10am. Please visit the link below for more information http://events.yahooxtra.co.nz/2011/may/auckland-cbd/purple-dandelion