Isma Pasha raises her younger twin siblings, Aneeka and Parvaiz, in London after their jihadist father dies in transit to Guantanamo Bay. When Parvaiz flees to Syria to join the media wing of the same terrorist organization, the family’s loyalty is scrutinized by the British state. Karamat Lone, a secular Home Secretary of Pakistani descent, enforces strict citizenship laws that strip Parvaiz of his right to return. Aneeka begins a calculated relationship with Karamat’s son, Eamonn, to influence the government’s decision, leading to a geopolitical standoff between private grief and national security.
This book serves readers interested in the intersection of contemporary counter-terrorism policy and classical tragedy. It attracts those seeking to understand how civil liberties and citizenship are revoked during political crises. Readers gain a perspective on the psychological conflict between religious obligation and secular law. The narrative provides a framework for analyzing how a migrant’s success in Western politics relies on the public disavowal of their cultural or familial heritage.
Thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2017
- Language
- EN
