THE RUGMAKER OF MAZAR-E-SHARIF

I did not know that I could feel this much sorrow without a body to bury…We who are watched and guarded, we who are questioned, probed, doubted - we are all illegals …Beautifully captured and penned by award-winning biographer Robert Hillman, this is a compelling story of an exceptional yet ‘ordinary’ man whose generous spirit, natural leadership and desire for peace, transcends enormous danger and heartbreak. Against a background of civil war and politics in Afghanistan, this extraordinary story follows the life of a twelve year old Hazari shepherd boy who forsakes his family wishes and becomes an apprentice rug maker. War is always in the background and the guns are never quiet. In 2001, Najif is captured and tortured by the Taliban and he is forced to flee Afghanistan, putting his life into the hands of a traditional enemy, a Pashtun, to escape. Surviving ten checkpoints, finally he is delivered safely into Pakistan. Aboard a small boat that is falling to pieces and which sinks alarmingly with the burden of its cargo, Najaf and 96 men, women and children take their chances to reach Australia. Najaf Mazari’s compelling and inspiring story begins in Woomera Detention Centre in the remote Australian desert. The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif is an amazing story of courage, hope and determination. Highly engaging compelling and inspiring, it has received brilliant reviews in all major Australian Newspapers and on Radio.