What If It Were You?

A child bride paralysed by fear, a man trapped in a life of slavery, a couple imprisoned for simply loving one another, a woman who refuses to bow to social pressure. For many, such nightmares are unimaginable: however, across the world, these struggles are all too real.
These evocative and thought-provoking poems draw back the curtain on the men, women and children who suffer in silence, giving a voice to those whose rights, freedom and wellbeing are so often compromised. The hard-hitting realism of Arif-Fear's poetry uncovers the reality of child marriage, modern slavery, female genital mutilation and many other forms of abuse, and presents such issues in a way which is direct and uncompromising.
The subject matter ranges from women struggling to break free from restrictive socio-cultural norms, to communities in conflict and under repressive rule. Social cohesion and justice are often compromised in the name of religion, culture or for financial and/or political reasons. Arif-Fear uses her wealth of experience campaigning for human rights and a more just society to express these global injustices through poetry based upon real people and real issues.

Auteur

oreword by Fiyaz Mughal OBE, founder of 'Tell MAMA', a national faith hate crime reporting project.
Listen to Elizabeth's interview with Phoebe Aurelia on Croydon FM here.
"[In a town in the US] all the Jewish community stand outside one of the mosques with plaques like 'we're here for you' showing that support, that sense of community, no matter what religion ... seeing these little glimmers of hope that's the important thing and I feel like your collection of poetry just adds to the glimmer of hope ... We're definitely a big supporter and we'll stay supporting."
"It's uncomfortable reading, the visual imagery is raw as if Ms Arif-Fear has cried her way through each stanza. The poetry is gripping; it's a book which draws us through it at an incredible speed, as if you are on a train passing through the very worst and occasionally the best of human nature." She Speaks We Hear. Read full review.
"Arif-Fear speaks about the sickening realities of child marriage, female genital mutilation and modern slavery and picks up on issues that are affecting many, many lives across the globe and in the UK ... She is fearless in her drive to expose the socio-cultural norms that have been imposed on people and the injustices which many men, women and children continue to face worldwide." Foreword, Fiyaz Mughal OBE
"This book leaves you feeling that you have travelled the ambit of human exploitation and misery in the hands of an inspirational guide."
"...makes what can seem remote, almost academic, very very real."
From 5* Amazon reader reviews