The Almond Garden
of Kabul

They called it Badam Bagh – the Almond Garden. But inside Kabul’s central women’s prison, nothing bloomed. Nothing except rage. When Niloofar, a teenage inmate, sets herself on fire, the authorities call it a suicide attempt. But two women – Sultan, a feared inmate who once killed her abusive husband, and Setara, a teacher and gifted artist imprisoned for a crime she did not commit – begin to suspect that the fire was not just a tragedy, but a protest.

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As they uncover a web of abuse and corruption, they draw in fellow inmates Sheyda and Geisha along the way. Together, they risk everything to expose a sinister secret that stretches far beyond the prison walls.

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In a land where fire once symbolised truth and divine power, their silence becomes the flame that sets the system ablaze.

Set against a brutal system built to erase them, The Almond Garden of Kabul is a haunting story of resistance, remembrance, and the fire women carry within them.

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Endorsements

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‘An astonishing book. Wonderfully written, stories beautifully told. In the darkest of places, there is also light and love, defiance and dignity. You will not forget the remarkable women of Badam Bagh prison. And you shouldn’t – because their story is true.’

—Lyse Doucet, CM OBE, BBC’s Chief International Correspondent, author of The Finest Hotel in Kabul

 

‘As searing and unforgettable as The Shawshank Redemption – a shocking story of women’s oppression and resilience against the backdrop of “democratic” Afghanistan. A story of female love, friendship and endurance. A must read for everyone who wants to understand the failures of Westernisation of this country through the eyes of its primary victims: women.’

—Dr Loretta Napoleoni, Economist and award-winning author of Technocapitalism

 

‘Mandana Hendessi’s novel is based on the lived reality of the most oppressed Afghan women in 21st century. She powerfully raises the voice of the voiceless. As we read through this beautifully written novel, we become aware of women’s agency seeking empowerment – refusing to be the passive victims. We also read how some women survive by enforcing patriarchal norms; choosing to be on the side of the powerful rather than focusing on gender justice. This novel is different from other books on Afghan women. It’s an important source of Afghanistan’s oral history based on gripping narratives. It’s a great contribution to literature. Furthermore, it’s an important contribution to our knowledge as academics, advocacy groups and policy makers.’ 

—Dr Elaheh Rostami-Povey, retired academic, University of London, author of Afghan Women: Identity and Invasion

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‘The women in this novel blaze with defiance and resilience. A powerful testament to the refusal to be silenced against all the odds.’ 

—Lillie Razvi Toon, project manager at Untold Narratives, co-editor of My Dear Kabul: A Year in the Life of an Afghan Women’s Writing Group

 

‘Afghanistan is the worst country in the world to be a woman. This novel exposes the hardship many women face there but also their quiet dissent, resilience and solidarity... Mandana’s deep knowledge of the country breathes life into this moving novel which is inspired by true events!’

—Baroness Fiona Hodgson of Abinger, CBE, and fellow campaigner for the rights of Afghan women

 

‘In 2010, Mandana Hendessi was working for an international NGO and supported Afghan women at risk from gender-based violence before she volunteered in a Kabul women’s prison. The women she met in Badam Bagh appear as unforgettable characters in her debut novel, The Almond Garden of Kabul. Inmates are puzzled by the self-immolation of a young prisoner. Illiterate but resourceful Sultan, who dresses and acts like a man – she is saving up for a sex change operation in Iran after her release – investigates. The Almond Garden of Kabul is based on real events. Its portrayal of Afghan women defies western stereotypes of the boundaries of gender in a patriarchal religious society.’

—Malu Halasa, editor of The Markaz Review, author of Mother of All Pigs

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