The Circle Women’s Centre at Brescia University College welcomes Monia Mazigh, author, academic and activist, to present in Brescia’s auditorium on Thursday, March 5 at 7:30 pm in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD).
Mazigh was catapulted onto the public stage in 2002 when her husband, Maher Arar, was deported to Syria where he was tortured in prison without charge for more than one year. She campaigned tirelessly for his release during that time. In March 2004, Mazigh shared with our Brescia audience her struggle to have her husband (and Canadian citizen) released.
Mazigh returns to Brescia to present “The rest of HERSTORY” as the IWD lecture of the Sophia Series following the release of her book Hope and Despair, published in November 2008. The book chronicles her struggles and strength as a Canadian hero.
In a review of the book, Brescia alumna Sarah Jarvis ’87 wrote, “The book is an outline of the events that happened during the year of Maher Arar’s captivity, with all of Mazigh’s desperate efforts to rescue her husband. Discussions are recreated and meetings are outlined, with lists of participants: key government figures, assistants, consular staff and politicians. Just as important are the interspersed stories of raising her children and coping with drastically reduced finances and stress.”
Hope & Despair will be available for purchase at the event through Kindred Spirits Books and Mazigh will sign copies for audience members following the talk.
Visit The Circle Women’s Centre website to learn more about Mazigh at https://www.brescia.uwo.ca/thecircle/upcoming.htm.
To read Jarvis’s complete review of Hope and Despair visit https://www.brescia.uwo.ca/alumnae/services/documents/hope_and_despair_book_review.pdf.