Maiwand Banayee's memoir traces his life from Kabul to a refugee camp in Pakistan, revealing the brutal impact of war on his childhood. At 16, Banayee yearned to join the Taliban, influenced by his environment and the madrasas that promised purpose. He witnessed horrific violence in Kabul before fleeing to Pakistan, where he grappled with his perspectives on faith and the West. His narrative not only chronicles personal trauma but also critiques the extremist ideology he once idolized, offering readers a profound account of identity and redemption amidst chaos.
In the refugee camp, Banayee came to see the west as a world stripped of miracle and wonder in contrast to the miracles ordinary people could obtain from God.
The only educational opportunity open to Afghans was the madrasa, which offered structure and purpose, yet taught them not how to live, but how to die.
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