TEHRAN- A Persian translation of Iraqi-French journalist and documentary filmmaker Feurat Alani’s book “I Remember Fallujah: A Novel” has recently been published. 

Abolfazl Allahdadi is the translator of the book released by Ofoq Publications in Tehran.

"I Remember Fallujah" is a deeply evocative debut novel that explores themes of memory, identity, and generational trauma through the lens of a father-son relationship. The narrative centers on Euphrates, the son of Rami, a political refugee who fled Iraq in the early 1970s to escape Saddam Hussein’s oppressive regime. As Rami grapples with terminal cancer in a hospital, the estranged father and son confront the silence that has long defined their lives.

Rami, once a young man in a war-torn Iraq, navigates the intricacies of growing up amidst political turmoil and societal upheaval. His recollections of Fallujah reveal a landscape fraught with resistance against Arab nationalism and the complexities of loyalty among left-wing factions. However, these memories are shrouded in pain and loss, leading Rami to suppress his past as he builds a new life in France, where he struggles to communicate the weight of his experiences to Euphrates.

As Euphrates seeks to understand his father’s history and, in turn, his own identity, the story oscillates between poignant memories of Iraqi life and the challenges of immigrant experiences in France. The novel captures the essence of the immigrant dream, illustrating the burdens of silence and the quest for connection across generations.

Inspired by Feurat Alani's personal journey, "I Remember Fallujah" is a heart-wrenching homage to the bonds of familial love, the search for truth, and the indelible impact of political history on personal lives. 

SAB/