I SHOULD HAVE HONOR

One woman’s efforts to save women in Pakistan from outdated tribal traditions.

Brohi was born in a rural area of Pakistan where families, particularly the women, obey the men in charge, where women go uneducated and are often married off as child brides, and tribal honor is always at stake. Even before her birth, she was destined to marry an older man. However, her father defied traditions and let her get an education instead, and she grew up believing she would become a doctor. Her path changed completely when her cousin was murdered in an “honor” killing; the girl had fallen in love with a man and run away with him only to be hunted down and killed for bringing dishonor to the tribe. Sickened, enraged, and impassioned, Brohi was determined to stop the killings as well as the physical and verbal violence unleashed against women and young girls. She became an activist, working to improve conditions for young girls like herself by providing training centers where they could get an education and learn how to stop the violence perpetrated against them. Brohi’s moving story unfolds gently and honestly as she shares her fears, triumphs, worries, stress, and the health issues she endured as she consistently marched toward creating change in her beloved Pakistan. Her efforts took her to the United States and other countries where she learned more about the shared humanity of people all over the globe. Throughout these years, she struggled with maintaining honor in her family, particularly with her father, and she shares the ups and downs of their relationship as well. The author illuminates the importance of education for both women and men and the global need for women to be recognized as equals to men.

The heartfelt story of a woman’s ardent dedication to stopping the senseless “honor” killings in Pakistan.