This is the true story of Yasmeena, a bright and beautiful young
Lebanese woman who was imprisoned in Kuwait during the first Gulf War.
Yasmeena's shocking journey is a tale of the madness of war, of the
sexual brutality unleashed by chaos, and of one woman's courage to stand
in danger's way to aid her fellow sufferers. This is an explicit,
graphic, and honest book. It is for mature audiences only.
Jean Sasson has spent her career sharing the personal stories of
courageous Middle Eastern women. Princess: Life Behind the Veil in
Saudi Arabia was an international bestseller. It has become a classic,
taught in colleges and high schools and devoured by anyone who aspires
to understand the Middle East. Yasmeena was quite literally an innocent
abroad. She was a college educated, English-speaking flight attendant
graced with an unusual amount of confidence and sophistication. She was
also a virgin and a conservative Muslim daughter and sister. When
Yasmeena's flight out of Kuwait was delayed, it was because Saddam
Hussein had just invaded Kuwait. Iraqi soldiers threw her into a woman's
prison where the guards committed ghastly sexual attacks and tortured
the women in excruciating ways.
After Yasmeena was brutalized by the captain of the prison, she thought
she was the most unfortunate woman on earth. But that was before she
befriended Lana, whose brutal rapist took glee in inflicting hurt.
Yasmeena used her position as the captain's favorite to protect her
friend, though she also was forced into a wrenching decision.
Yasmeena's Choice reads like a thriller. As the Americans and other
allies march into Kuwait and the Iraqis flee, Yasmeena escapes.
Eventually she finds a safe harbor where Sasson interviews her and
records every horrific element of her experience. Sasson has wanted to
write this story for many years. But she knew that the sexual
explicitness and violence would make the tale difficult to publish. A
year ago, Yasmeena's story and the choices she was forced to make
invaded Sasson's dreams. She realized that now was the right time to
share the story. And so here it is, Sasson's testament to an articulate,
angry, brave young woman who not only survived but who was eager to
share her story with the world.
