With an introduction by amy wilentz, malika oufkir, 1953. She is the daughter of general mohamed oufkir and a cousin of fellow moroccan writer and actress leila shenna. Malika oufkir s first book, stolen lives, told the horrific story of her 20year imprisonment in morocco. May 11, 2017 malika s father was the late general mohammad oufkir, the right hand man of king muhammad v of morocco. But when malika was eighteen, in 1972, her father was arrested. May 09, 2002 like rosalind, malika was sent into exile.
Twenty years in a desert jail oufkir, malika, brychta, edita on. On the gilded surface it looked like a childhood fairytale. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. However, malikas extraordinary story starts long before this took place.
Upon the royal familys return to morocco, malika oufkir, daughter of a favored general, was informally adopted into the royal family to be a companion to the princess. Adopted by the king at the age of five, malika spent most of her childhood and adolescence in the seclusion of the court harem, one of the most eligible heiresses in the kingdom, surrounded by luxury and extraordinary privilege. What is it like to be trapped in a desert jail for 20. Twenty years in a desert jail audio cd abridged, audiobook. Malika oufkir was born into a wellconnected moroccan family and when she was five years old she was chosen to be the special companion of lalla mina, king muhammad vs daughter. Stolen lives is an astoldto book that has been translated from the french into english, and it reads like it. Born in 1953, malika oufkir was the eldest daughter of general oufkir, the king of moroccos closest aide. Stolen lives, malika oufkirs intensely moving account of her twenty years imprisoned in a desert jail in morocco, was a surprise international best seller and the second nonfiction title ever selected for oprahs book club in her highly anticipated followup, malika reflects on the life she lived before and during incarceration and how dramatically the world had. King hassan ll, princess amina and right her companion, malika, at the age of eight in 1961. In 1987, malika and three of her siblings briefly escaped and alerted the world to their plight, forcing hassan ii eventually to free the whole family from their medieval detention.
One of the longest sagas of captivity in this century ended on feb. Lalla mina also loved horses, and malika, who hated them, was forced to learn to become an equestrian. Filled with honesty, emotion, and humor, stolen lives is a gripping and heartrending account of one familys unbreakable bond and a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Malika oufkir has been a prisoner for virtually her whole life. What is it like to be trapped in a desert jail for 20 years. Recaptured after five days, malika was finally able to leave morocco and begin a new life in exile in 1996. Born in 1953, malika oufkir is the eldest daughter of general oufkir, the closest aide of the king of morocco. The story of my second life a sequel to stolen lives author malika oufkir describes relearning how to live as a free person. Jun 01, 2001 in stolen lives, malika recounts the long years that she, her five siblings, and her mother spent trying to survive in the worst of conditions. Aug 16, 2019 born in 1953, malika oufkir was the eldest daughter of general oufkir, the king of moroccos closest aide. The prose is clunky and inelegant, and if the story wasnt so powerful, this would be a book to skim through and toss. Then, on august 16, 1972, her father was executed after an attempt to assassinate the king.
Oufkir was killed and his wife and six children were kept in prison for 20 years for his crime. Malika is the eldest daughter of ganeral oufkir, who, in 1972, was the head of the attempted murder of hassan ii, father of the current king of morocco. But when malika was eighteen, in 1972, her father was arrested after an attempt to. She was adopted by the king to be a companion to his little daughter, and at the royal court of rabat, malika grew up locked away in a golden cage, among the royal wives and concubines. Malika, who spent many years living at the palace as a companion to princess amina, suddenly found. However, malika s extraordinary story starts long before this took place. Join facebook to connect with malika oufkir and others you may know. She is an actress, known for mektoub 1997, the rosie odonnell show 1996 and vol. In 1972, her father, the king of moroccos highest aide, was arrested and executed for his alleged part in a plot to assassinate the king.
There she grew up locked away among the royal wives and concubines of the kings harem. Malika oufkir and her family spent more than twenty years in prison at the hands of the moroccan government. In her highly anticipated followup, malika reflects on the. Malika oufkir was born on april 2, 1953 in marrakech, morocco. Morocco frees family of former minister after 18 years in prison by jamal amiar. For more than 11 years, malika oufkir lived in the royal palace of rabat.
There she grew up locked away among the royal wives and. Three years later, in 1961, king muhammad died and his son, hassan ii, ascended the throne. Stolen lives, by malika oufkir and michele fitoussi. The bare bones of the book are classic derringdo adventure, and hollywood almost certainly has its eyes on the film rightscomplete with american cast. Malika oufkir was adopted by the king of morocco as a companion to his daughter when she. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Twenty years in a desert jail oprahs book club reprint by oufkir, malika, fitoussi, michele, schwartz, ros isbn. Born into a proud berber family in 1953, the eldest daughter of the king of moroccos closest aide, malika was adopted by mohammed v as a royal ward and brought to live in the palace at rabat to be a companion to his favourite little daughter. Malika oufkir was born into extreme privilege as the daughter of the king of moroccos closest aide, and she grew up in the palace as companion to the moroccan princess. Adopted by the king at the age of five, malika spent most of her childhood and adolescence in the seclusion of the court harem, one of the most eligible heiresses in the. The king adopted malika upon order, not on request when she was five, to be a playmate to his youngest daughter, lalla mina.
In the palace, oufkir describes the kings slaves and i thought they were gone with the american revolution. May 17, 2001 malika oufkir was born into a wellconnected moroccan family and when she was five years old she was chosen to be the special companion of lalla mina, king muhammad vs daughter. In her highly anticipated followup, malika reflects on the life she lived before and during incarceration and how dramatically the world had changed. It seemed to be a charmed life, but it was a cloistered life, almost like a prison. Twenty years in a desert jail was both an oprah book of the month club selection, and a new york times nonfiction bestseller.
Leser interviews malika oufkir, the woman who has retold their story in an amazing book. Malika oufkir is the eldest daughter of mohamed oufkir. Oufkirs second book is better appreciated if her first book is read beforehand. Watch the cspan collection of videos, access clips including recent appearances by malika oufkir. Malika oufkirs first book, stolen lives, told the horrific story of her 20year imprisonment in morocco. In stolen lives, malika recounts the long years that she, her five siblings, and her mother spent trying to survive in the worst of conditions. Malika oufikir, aided by writer michele fitoussi, recounts the plunge from the heights of an extremely privileged, if secluded, life, mostly lived at the royal moroccan court, and a life which later landed herself and her family into gaol, in 1972. From palace to prison a year ago, when moroccos crown prince sidi mohammed announced the death of his father king hassan ii, malika oufkir had more reason than most to reflect. Nov 07, 2000 malika oufkir was born into a proud berber family in 1953, the eldest daughter of the king of moroccos closest aide. Morocco frees family of former minister after 18 years in. Survivor and story teller malika oufkir, 48, in her paris apartment. Stolen lives, malika oufkir s intensely moving account of her twenty years imprisoned in a desert jail in morocco, was a surprise international best seller and the second nonfiction title ever selected for oprahs book club in her highly anticipated followup, malika reflects on the life she lived before and during incarceration and how dramatically the world had changed when she emerged.
She is an actress, known for mektoub 1997, the rosie odonnell show 1996 and. Washington report on middle east affairs, april 1991, page 38 maghreb mirror. Stolen lives, malika oufkirs intensely moving account of her twenty years imprisoned in a desert jail in morocco, was a surprise international best seller and the second nonfiction title ever selected for oprahs book club. Unlike rosalindsince life is not, alas, a shakespearean romanceshe was not accompanied by muhammads daughter, her former playmate, princess amina, known as lalla mina. Twenty years in a desert jail oprahs book club by malika oufkir and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Stolen lives by oufkir abebooks shop for books, art. Escaped princess fears fury of hassan world news the. Adopted by the king at the age of five, malika spent most of her childhood in the seclusion of the court harem. The voice in freedom is different than that in stolen lives because only oufkir wrote this book, whereas two other authors contributed to stolen lives. By ignoring time, she is refusing to acknowledge the 20 years that she lost to an. In her highly anticipated followup, malika reflects on the life she lived before and during incarceration and how dramatically the world had changed when she emerged. Even in the safety of her austere flat in pariss dull th arrondissement, malika oufkir finds it difficult to talk about her terrifying 24 years as a prisoner of moroccos king hassan ii. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your first box. Jan 26, 2017 upon the failure of general oufkirs coup detat against king hassan ii of morocco in 1972, this later decided to send all oufkir members, including his elder daughter, malika, who was an.
A heartrending account in the face of extreme deprivation and the courage with which one family faced its fate, stolen lives is an unforgettable story of one womans journey to freedom. A gripping memoir that reads like a political thrillerthe story of malika oufkirs turbulent and remarkable life. Malika oufkir explained everything explained today. Malika oufkir was born into a proud berber family in 1953, the eldest daughter of the king of moroccos closest aide. This is the printed condensation of their amazing survival. Clint willis, clint willis, malika oufkir, malika oufkir, client willis, williseditorclint, clint edited by willis, edited by clint willis, malika oufkir, 1953. In her highly anticipated followup, malika reflects on the life she lived before and during incarceration and how dramatically the world had changed when she. Instead, she was banished along with her mother and five siblings, and two loyal retainers. Jun 17, 2001 in 1987, malika and three of her siblings briefly escaped and alerted the world to their plight, forcing hassan ii eventually to free the whole family from their medieval detention.
Malika was taken away from her family and remained confined within the palace at rabat for 14 years. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Stolen lives, malika oufkir s intensely moving account of her twenty years imprisoned in a desert jail in morocco, was a surprise international best seller and the second nonfiction title ever selected for oprahs book club. The eldest of six children of the closest aide and friend of king hassan ii, oufkir spent most of her childhood and adolescence in the seclusion of the court harem, surrounded by luxury. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. She is the daughter of general mohamed oufkir and a cousin of fellow.