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electramourning's review
5.0
A must read.
An absolutely chilling look at a genocide which is still currently ongoing today. Absolutely EVERYONE in the world must read this book. The Rohingya deserve to be heard.
An absolutely chilling look at a genocide which is still currently ongoing today. Absolutely EVERYONE in the world must read this book. The Rohingya deserve to be heard.
thatothernigeriangirl's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I learnt a lot more about the Rohingya people. I used to think that their persecution was solely because of their religion (Islam) but quickly learnt that there is a terrible element of race attached to it. The Rohingya are dark skinned as such horrible words (similar to the n-word) used to describe them features a lot in this book.
It was both eye-opening and unsurprising to find out that the Rohingya’s dark skins and dark hairs fuels the hatred and suffering they’ve had to live with. Glad Habiburahman got to tell his story and by extension, the story of his people.
It was both eye-opening and unsurprising to find out that the Rohingya’s dark skins and dark hairs fuels the hatred and suffering they’ve had to live with. Glad Habiburahman got to tell his story and by extension, the story of his people.
anneke_b's review against another edition
5.0
This is a must-read for everyone. We do not know enough about the atrocities committed against the Rohingya, and their long struggle.
Beautifully written, very engaging, and oh so painful....
Beautifully written, very engaging, and oh so painful....
paulap's review
medium-paced
3.75
A very heartfelt and honest account of what is happening in Myanmar to the Rohingya. It is very scary and heartbreaking. The only criticism I can tell is that sometimes it is deceivingly simple narrative, I would have liked a bit more details at some points and more context.
scribepub's review against another edition
This is my chance to speak for my people, who continue to suffer, but who are voiceless.
The Guardian
More than 688,000 Rohingya fled western Burma since August 2017, at the launch of punitive operations, a sweep of violence without precedent. Habiburahman, though, left the zone well before this happened — 18 years ago. He passed through Thailand and Malaysia, was stopped by a fishing boat, then tried to reach Australia by sea, getting as far as the Christmas Islands. After two and a half years in Australian detention centers, he was released at the end of 2012.
Le Monde
Habiburahman without doubt presents an unambiguous view of the Burmese situation … But there is little evidence from the Rangoon government to seriously deny it.
L’EXPRESS
The gripping, chilling inside story of the incubation of a genocide ... Habib’s moving family history emerges as a powerful and, to my knowledge, unique historical document. His compelling storytelling relates how playground prejudice against the Muslim Rohingya of Arakan escalated into pogroms, terror, and apartheid ... Incredible.
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News
The book is written in simple language and tells the story without embellishment. There is no need for flourishes; it is relentless.
Gay Alcorn, The Guardian
The greatest barriers to stories such as Habiburahman’s being heard, though. Are invalidation and indifference. Do not be indifferent to this urgent, humane book. Read it, share it, talk about what has been happening — and in so doing safeguard the humanity of Habiburahman, the Rohingya and all asylum seekers, as well as the imperilled humanity of this country.
Maria Takolander, The Saturday Paper
[First, They Erased Our Name] tells the first-hand truth behind the global humanitarian crisis.
Business Standard
For the first time, Habib’s book gives written voice to the history of fate and his people who have been left stateless in their own country. Habib’s own story is an odyssey of danger, resistance, torture and courage.
James Taylor, Surf Coast Times
Compelling. FOUR STARS
Robyn Douglass, SA Weekend
The Guardian
More than 688,000 Rohingya fled western Burma since August 2017, at the launch of punitive operations, a sweep of violence without precedent. Habiburahman, though, left the zone well before this happened — 18 years ago. He passed through Thailand and Malaysia, was stopped by a fishing boat, then tried to reach Australia by sea, getting as far as the Christmas Islands. After two and a half years in Australian detention centers, he was released at the end of 2012.
Le Monde
Habiburahman without doubt presents an unambiguous view of the Burmese situation … But there is little evidence from the Rangoon government to seriously deny it.
L’EXPRESS
The gripping, chilling inside story of the incubation of a genocide ... Habib’s moving family history emerges as a powerful and, to my knowledge, unique historical document. His compelling storytelling relates how playground prejudice against the Muslim Rohingya of Arakan escalated into pogroms, terror, and apartheid ... Incredible.
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News
The book is written in simple language and tells the story without embellishment. There is no need for flourishes; it is relentless.
Gay Alcorn, The Guardian
The greatest barriers to stories such as Habiburahman’s being heard, though. Are invalidation and indifference. Do not be indifferent to this urgent, humane book. Read it, share it, talk about what has been happening — and in so doing safeguard the humanity of Habiburahman, the Rohingya and all asylum seekers, as well as the imperilled humanity of this country.
Maria Takolander, The Saturday Paper
[First, They Erased Our Name] tells the first-hand truth behind the global humanitarian crisis.
Business Standard
For the first time, Habib’s book gives written voice to the history of fate and his people who have been left stateless in their own country. Habib’s own story is an odyssey of danger, resistance, torture and courage.
James Taylor, Surf Coast Times
Compelling. FOUR STARS
Robyn Douglass, SA Weekend
scribepub's review
This is my chance to speak for my people, who continue to suffer, but who are voiceless.
The Guardian
More than 688,000 Rohingya fled western Burma since August 2017, at the launch of punitive operations, a sweep of violence without precedent. Habiburahman, though, left the zone well before this happened — 18 years ago. He passed through Thailand and Malaysia, was stopped by a fishing boat, then tried to reach Australia by sea, getting as far as the Christmas Islands. After two and a half years in Australian detention centers, he was released at the end of 2012.
Le Monde
Habiburahman without doubt presents an unambiguous view of the Burmese situation … But there is little evidence from the Rangoon government to seriously deny it.
L’EXPRESS
The gripping, chilling inside story of the incubation of a genocide ... Habib’s moving family history emerges as a powerful and, to my knowledge, unique historical document. His compelling storytelling relates how playground prejudice against the Muslim Rohingya of Arakan escalated into pogroms, terror, and apartheid ... Incredible.
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News
The book is written in simple language and tells the story without embellishment. There is no need for flourishes; it is relentless.
Gay Alcorn, The Guardian
The greatest barriers to stories such as Habiburahman’s being heard, though. Are invalidation and indifference. Do not be indifferent to this urgent, humane book. Read it, share it, talk about what has been happening — and in so doing safeguard the humanity of Habiburahman, the Rohingya and all asylum seekers, as well as the imperilled humanity of this country.
Maria Takolander, The Saturday Paper
[First, They Erased Our Name] tells the first-hand truth behind the global humanitarian crisis.
Business Standard
For the first time, Habib’s book gives written voice to the history of fate and his people who have been left stateless in their own country. Habib’s own story is an odyssey of danger, resistance, torture and courage.
James Taylor, Surf Coast Times
Compelling. FOUR STARS
Robyn Douglass, SA Weekend
The Guardian
More than 688,000 Rohingya fled western Burma since August 2017, at the launch of punitive operations, a sweep of violence without precedent. Habiburahman, though, left the zone well before this happened — 18 years ago. He passed through Thailand and Malaysia, was stopped by a fishing boat, then tried to reach Australia by sea, getting as far as the Christmas Islands. After two and a half years in Australian detention centers, he was released at the end of 2012.
Le Monde
Habiburahman without doubt presents an unambiguous view of the Burmese situation … But there is little evidence from the Rangoon government to seriously deny it.
L’EXPRESS
The gripping, chilling inside story of the incubation of a genocide ... Habib’s moving family history emerges as a powerful and, to my knowledge, unique historical document. His compelling storytelling relates how playground prejudice against the Muslim Rohingya of Arakan escalated into pogroms, terror, and apartheid ... Incredible.
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News
The book is written in simple language and tells the story without embellishment. There is no need for flourishes; it is relentless.
Gay Alcorn, The Guardian
The greatest barriers to stories such as Habiburahman’s being heard, though. Are invalidation and indifference. Do not be indifferent to this urgent, humane book. Read it, share it, talk about what has been happening — and in so doing safeguard the humanity of Habiburahman, the Rohingya and all asylum seekers, as well as the imperilled humanity of this country.
Maria Takolander, The Saturday Paper
[First, They Erased Our Name] tells the first-hand truth behind the global humanitarian crisis.
Business Standard
For the first time, Habib’s book gives written voice to the history of fate and his people who have been left stateless in their own country. Habib’s own story is an odyssey of danger, resistance, torture and courage.
James Taylor, Surf Coast Times
Compelling. FOUR STARS
Robyn Douglass, SA Weekend
scribepub's review against another edition
This is my chance to speak for my people, who continue to suffer, but who are voiceless.
The Guardian
More than 688,000 Rohingya fled western Burma since August 2017, at the launch of punitive operations, a sweep of violence without precedent. Habiburahman, though, left the zone well before this happened — 18 years ago. He passed through Thailand and Malaysia, was stopped by a fishing boat, then tried to reach Australia by sea, getting as far as the Christmas Islands. After two and a half years in Australian detention centers, he was released at the end of 2012.
Le Monde
Habiburahman without doubt presents an unambiguous view of the Burmese situation … But there is little evidence from the Rangoon government to seriously deny it.
L’EXPRESS
The gripping, chilling inside story of the incubation of a genocide ... Habib’s moving family history emerges as a powerful and, to my knowledge, unique historical document. His compelling storytelling relates how playground prejudice against the Muslim Rohingya of Arakan escalated into pogroms, terror, and apartheid ... Incredible.
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News
The book is written in simple language and tells the story without embellishment. There is no need for flourishes; it is relentless.
Gay Alcorn, The Guardian
The greatest barriers to stories such as Habiburahman’s being heard, though. Are invalidation and indifference. Do not be indifferent to this urgent, humane book. Read it, share it, talk about what has been happening — and in so doing safeguard the humanity of Habiburahman, the Rohingya and all asylum seekers, as well as the imperilled humanity of this country.
Maria Takolander, The Saturday Paper
[First, They Erased Our Name] tells the first-hand truth behind the global humanitarian crisis.
Business Standard
For the first time, Habib’s book gives written voice to the history of fate and his people who have been left stateless in their own country. Habib’s own story is an odyssey of danger, resistance, torture and courage.
James Taylor, Surf Coast Times
Compelling. FOUR STARS
Robyn Douglass, SA Weekend
The Guardian
More than 688,000 Rohingya fled western Burma since August 2017, at the launch of punitive operations, a sweep of violence without precedent. Habiburahman, though, left the zone well before this happened — 18 years ago. He passed through Thailand and Malaysia, was stopped by a fishing boat, then tried to reach Australia by sea, getting as far as the Christmas Islands. After two and a half years in Australian detention centers, he was released at the end of 2012.
Le Monde
Habiburahman without doubt presents an unambiguous view of the Burmese situation … But there is little evidence from the Rangoon government to seriously deny it.
L’EXPRESS
The gripping, chilling inside story of the incubation of a genocide ... Habib’s moving family history emerges as a powerful and, to my knowledge, unique historical document. His compelling storytelling relates how playground prejudice against the Muslim Rohingya of Arakan escalated into pogroms, terror, and apartheid ... Incredible.
Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News
The book is written in simple language and tells the story without embellishment. There is no need for flourishes; it is relentless.
Gay Alcorn, The Guardian
The greatest barriers to stories such as Habiburahman’s being heard, though. Are invalidation and indifference. Do not be indifferent to this urgent, humane book. Read it, share it, talk about what has been happening — and in so doing safeguard the humanity of Habiburahman, the Rohingya and all asylum seekers, as well as the imperilled humanity of this country.
Maria Takolander, The Saturday Paper
[First, They Erased Our Name] tells the first-hand truth behind the global humanitarian crisis.
Business Standard
For the first time, Habib’s book gives written voice to the history of fate and his people who have been left stateless in their own country. Habib’s own story is an odyssey of danger, resistance, torture and courage.
James Taylor, Surf Coast Times
Compelling. FOUR STARS
Robyn Douglass, SA Weekend
simabj's review against another edition
5.0
The international community has the power to highlight conflicts and direct sympathy as it sees fit. For years, the world turned a blind eye to the suffering of the Rohingya people. The Rohingya endure indescribable apartheid in their country Myanmar as the government denies them citizenship, and effectively treats them as inferior, illegal immigrants-- even though they have rightfully been part of their homeland.
For the past several decades, Rohingya have endured systemic racism, torture and violence perpetuated by extremist groups in Myanmar. In 2017, a mass exodus of a hundred thousand Rohingya crossed the border to Bangladesh, and this event finally marked the turning of the international community's attention towards the Rohingya plight.
To a people's whose voice is effectively silenced enters Habiburahman, elevating the experiences and the oppression faced by the Rohingya at the hands of the state, and also in the countries who host them as asylum-seekers.
Habiburahman's harrowing journey takes us from a young boy's dream of becoming a lawyer, and to his realization at a young age that his was not a normal childhood- but that of which he needs to learn to survive. His journey to education and freedom lead him to jail, across Myanmar borders, and at the brink of human trafficking. Finally, he speaks his story, and the story of his people -- the neglected, voiceless and forgotten. He is one of the first to elevate their voices, and with the help of Sophie Ansel, his voice resonates powerfully.
A great read to educate ourselves about the ongoing apartheid against Rohingya in Myanmar and the refugee crisis created by it.
For the past several decades, Rohingya have endured systemic racism, torture and violence perpetuated by extremist groups in Myanmar. In 2017, a mass exodus of a hundred thousand Rohingya crossed the border to Bangladesh, and this event finally marked the turning of the international community's attention towards the Rohingya plight.
To a people's whose voice is effectively silenced enters Habiburahman, elevating the experiences and the oppression faced by the Rohingya at the hands of the state, and also in the countries who host them as asylum-seekers.
Habiburahman's harrowing journey takes us from a young boy's dream of becoming a lawyer, and to his realization at a young age that his was not a normal childhood- but that of which he needs to learn to survive. His journey to education and freedom lead him to jail, across Myanmar borders, and at the brink of human trafficking. Finally, he speaks his story, and the story of his people -- the neglected, voiceless and forgotten. He is one of the first to elevate their voices, and with the help of Sophie Ansel, his voice resonates powerfully.
A great read to educate ourselves about the ongoing apartheid against Rohingya in Myanmar and the refugee crisis created by it.
missflamingo's review against another edition
4.0
Sad, revealing reading. While all the world admired Aung San Suu Kyi for her wonderful pacifist and rightly awarded peacekeeping work, Myanmar's mostly Muslim Rohingya minority continues to endure ethnic cleansing and genocide.
I re-read this book in a weekend to refresh my memory of the story. It is hard to get through if you are sensitive to brutality.
Habib, a Muslim Rohingya from Arakan State tells his story spanning from childhood in 1984 to the present day, written with the help of French journalist Sophie Ansel and translated by Andrea Reece. It is a heartbreaking liturgy of offences committed by the military on par with those of Nazi Germany. Beginning with the de-humanisation of an ethnic group through systematic brainwashing of the populace, the other 135 "recognised" ethnic peoples of Myanmar turn against the Rohingya. Once the populace is turned against them the Rohingya are relentlessly persecuted, removed from their lands, repeatedly imprisoned and tortured for minor crimes and forcibly relocated until they no longer have a place in Myanmar - they are being exterminated.
To this day the Burmese press refer to the Rohingya people as "Bengali terrorists" when in fact they are mountain dwellers, highlanders with roots back to 1433 when a sacred mosque was built. In 1996 this mosque was dismantled to eliminate any trace of the Rohingya people. Habib writes; "It was a memory that had to be erased so the history of Arakan (the state) and Myanmar could be rewritten..."
Habib manages to get an education in spite of his circumstances and once he has escaped the family home there is no returning as the authorities remove him from the "official" list of family members. He moves on to Thailand, Malaysia and eventually Christmas Island and Australia. Knowing there is no way back he settles for exile over family, isolation over love, and eventually realises the only destiny open to him is one of activism.
I re-read this book in a weekend to refresh my memory of the story. It is hard to get through if you are sensitive to brutality.
Habib, a Muslim Rohingya from Arakan State tells his story spanning from childhood in 1984 to the present day, written with the help of French journalist Sophie Ansel and translated by Andrea Reece. It is a heartbreaking liturgy of offences committed by the military on par with those of Nazi Germany. Beginning with the de-humanisation of an ethnic group through systematic brainwashing of the populace, the other 135 "recognised" ethnic peoples of Myanmar turn against the Rohingya. Once the populace is turned against them the Rohingya are relentlessly persecuted, removed from their lands, repeatedly imprisoned and tortured for minor crimes and forcibly relocated until they no longer have a place in Myanmar - they are being exterminated.
To this day the Burmese press refer to the Rohingya people as "Bengali terrorists" when in fact they are mountain dwellers, highlanders with roots back to 1433 when a sacred mosque was built. In 1996 this mosque was dismantled to eliminate any trace of the Rohingya people. Habib writes; "It was a memory that had to be erased so the history of Arakan (the state) and Myanmar could be rewritten..."
Habib manages to get an education in spite of his circumstances and once he has escaped the family home there is no returning as the authorities remove him from the "official" list of family members. He moves on to Thailand, Malaysia and eventually Christmas Island and Australia. Knowing there is no way back he settles for exile over family, isolation over love, and eventually realises the only destiny open to him is one of activism.