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A review by ninakeller
They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom by Dena Takruri, Ahed Tamimi
informative
fast-paced
5.0
Ahed Tamimi comes from a long line of steadfast freedom fighters who assert their humanity in the face of Israeli occupation of their home. At just 23 years old, she tells the story of her childhood challenges of frequent raids on her home, enduring unpredictable checkpoints, being restricted from the sea, seeing her family members brutalized and even killed.
Of course, she details the infamous slap which, at age 16, resulted in interrogation and imprisonment that has been condemned by Amnesty International.
While imprisoned, she learned about international law and international humanitarian law, and became committed to studying and practicing law for the purpose of combatting Israeli apartheid. Underlying her fight for Palestinian liberation, she consistently reiterates that people are people, and how much she appreciates foreigners and Israelis and Jews who join her people in solidarity and struggle. She speaks of the pity she feels for Zionists who have been sold propaganda and stripped of their humanity. In the context of brutal acceleration of US-supported, Israeli government aggression that has escalated to indiscriminate carpet bombing and genocide, reading her right now sort of helps, as we all watch the horrifying events unfolding in Gaza.
In the book she appeals to the reader to take action by spreading awareness, further educating yourself, and standing in solidarity for people combatting oppression. All this, BEFORE the retaliation of October 7 horrors and subsequent ICJ ruling and UN appeals.
Of course, she details the infamous slap which, at age 16, resulted in interrogation and imprisonment that has been condemned by Amnesty International.
While imprisoned, she learned about international law and international humanitarian law, and became committed to studying and practicing law for the purpose of combatting Israeli apartheid. Underlying her fight for Palestinian liberation, she consistently reiterates that people are people, and how much she appreciates foreigners and Israelis and Jews who join her people in solidarity and struggle. She speaks of the pity she feels for Zionists who have been sold propaganda and stripped of their humanity. In the context of brutal acceleration of US-supported, Israeli government aggression that has escalated to indiscriminate carpet bombing and genocide, reading her right now sort of helps, as we all watch the horrifying events unfolding in Gaza.
In the book she appeals to the reader to take action by spreading awareness, further educating yourself, and standing in solidarity for people combatting oppression. All this, BEFORE the retaliation of October 7 horrors and subsequent ICJ ruling and UN appeals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Torture, Confinement, Colonisation, and Violence