In her latest book, 'Moi, fille d’un prisonnier politique!' (Afrique Orient, May 2026), Moroccan sociologist Soumaya Naamane Guessous examines the impact of political imprisonment on families during Morocco's 'Years of Lead' (roughly 1960s-1990s). The work combines personal narrative with sociological analysis, focusing on the experiences of women and children left behind.
Naamane Guessous, known for her research on gender and sexuality in Morocco, draws on her own family history. Her father was a political prisoner, and the book explores how this shaped her identity and worldview. The publisher, Afrique Orient, is based in Casablanca.
The 'Years of Lead' refer to a period of political repression under King Hassan II, marked by disappearances, torture, and imprisonment of dissidents. The Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), established in 2004, documented many cases but left some aspects unaddressed.
This memoir contributes to a growing body of literature that gives voice to the families of victims, particularly women and children, who often bore the social and economic burdens of political persecution. The book was released in May 2026.
