Souad is a pseudonymous author known for her harrowing memoir, "Burned Alive," which recounts her survival of an attempted honor killing in the West Bank. Raised in a traditional Palestinian family, Souad bravely shares her personal story to raise awareness about the plight of women facing similar fates. Her work has sparked important discussions on women's rights and cultural practices in the Middle East.
I was born a girl in a world that wanted only boys.
Love is a luxury I could never afford.
In the darkness, I found my strength.
Silence became my only refuge.
The pain of betrayal cut deeper than any knife.
Fear was my constant companion.
Hope was a flickering flame in the darkness.
I refused to let my scars define me.
My voice was silenced, but my story will be heard.
Hate can consume a person's soul.
Forgiveness was my path to freedom.
In the ashes of my past, I found the strength to rise.