“What If It Were You?”
Publisher: Shepheard-Walwyn (2019)
All funds paid to the author will go to the non-profit organisation The Grandmother Project, which works to protect girls in Senegal from FGM and child marriage and keep them in secondary education.
A child bride paralysed by fear, a man trapped in a life of slavery, a couple imprisoned for simply loving one another, a woman who refuses to bow to social pressure. For many, such nightmares are unimaginable: however, across the world, these struggles are all too real.
These evocative poems draw back the curtain on the men, women and children who suffer in silence, giving a voice to those whose rights, freedom and wellbeing are so often compromised. The hard-hitting realism of Arif-Fear’s poetry uncovers the reality of child marriage, modern slavery, female genital mutilation and many other forms of abuse, and presents such issues in a way which is direct and uncompromising.
The subject matter ranges from women struggling to break free from restrictive socio-cultural norms, to communities in conflict and under repressive rule. Social cohesion and justice are often compromised in the name of religion, culture or for financial and/or political reasons. Arif-Fear uses her wealth of experience campaigning for human rights and a more just society to express these global injustices through poetry based upon real people and real issues.
Available to purchase from:
Australia: Booktopia, Dymocks
Brazil: Amazon
Canada: Amazon
Denmark: Plusbog
France: Amazon
Germany: Lehmans
India: Amazon
Italy: Amazon, Mondadori
Moldova: Elefant
Netherlands: Bol, Donner
New Zealand: Mighty Ape
Poland: Ceneo
Portugal: Fnac
Slovenia: Emka
South Africa: Raru
South Korea: Aladin
Spain: Amazon
Sweden: Bokus
UK: Amazon, Shepheard-Walwyn, Foyles, Blackwell’s
USA: Amazon, Wallmart, Target
Performances:
Actress Helen George reads the poem “Angel beneath the Ground” at the Amnesty UK Festival of Social Justice (2021).
Reviews:
Submitted for the People’s Book Prize (Fiction, summer 2019)
1. Jessica on July 1, 2019 at 10:47 am
Awesome book which I read and I lent it to my friends to read. Reading it I was so moved!!!!
2. Jessica Maden on July 1, 2019 at 10:48 am
I would recommend this book to anyone with a heart and spiritual mind.
3. Marna Williams on July 3, 2019 at 11:08 pm
Amazing collection which touches the heart in so many ways.
4. Stephen Hoffman on July 4, 2019 at 6:39 am
A book putting you in the footsteps of those who have survived despite horrifying experiences.
5. Alexandra SALINASOVA on July 19, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Everyone should read this book, especially “What if it were you”. It really is a wake-up call. Most of us are too fast asleep.
6. Jennifer Smith on July 23, 2019 at 12:39 pm
Simply beautiful and inspirational.
7. Ade Couper on July 25, 2019 at 2:41 pm
This book hits you right in the heart. Buy it. Read it.
8. Jessica Maden on August 8, 2019 at 12:52 pm
What an amazing book.
Whenever I feel low I look at the book.
Its about strength, courage, fearlessness and determination to do the right thing.
9. Lauranne on August 11, 2019 at 9:00 pm
Hits your heart, hits your soul… a voice for those who have been silenced…
10. India Gibson on August 15, 2019 at 7:53 am
What an awesome book and have read it a few times over. Love the way Liz expresses each word and touches the spirit.
11. Daisy Ybanez on August 15, 2019 at 7:59 am
Love the book and the words touched my heart. I have lend the book to a few of my friends too.
12. Anonymous on August 21, 2019 at 10:28 am
Not a comfortable but an inspiring and heartfelt read. The poetry is beautiful and the list of further organisations dealing with the issues raised very useful.
If you love good storytelling, want to read the work of an upcoming writer based on her human rights activism, be transfixed by excellent and emotion filled vocabulary, do buy a copy of @Voice_of_Salam book!
It opened my eyes and will open yours too! /6https://t.co/v6B6016Hu4
— Stephen Hoffman (Ironically) (@thehoff102) March 2, 2019
Voice of Salam 
Very important book, touching on every horror and abuse imaginable, but also full of love and understanding and positivity. Good foreword by Fiyaz Mughal OBE, except that I think he doesn’t explicitly mention the abuse against men and boys as well, not just women and girls.