With Ash On Their Faces

With Ash On Their Faces is a powerful and heartrending account of the atrocities faced by Yezidi women at the hands of the Islamic State. Drawing on firsthand testimonies, award-winning journalist Cathy Otten traces the genocide perpetrated against the Yezidi community in northern Iraq and the unimaginable brutality inflicted on its women—kidnapped, enslaved, and abused. Yet, it is also a story of immense courage and resilience, as many of these women find ways to escape, heal, and reclaim their lives.

A crucial work of narrative journalism, this book sheds light on one of the most pressing human rights crises of our time.

In the ashes of war, the strength of women rises. 

• A harrowing true account of genocide, gender-based violence, and survival.
• Written by an award-winning foreign correspondent with deep access to sources.
• Gives voice to survivors’ powerful testimonies, rarely heard in mainstream media.
• Explores post-trauma recovery, reintegration, and the role of international aid.
• Serves as an important document of women’s resistance and international human rights.

| Cathy Otten is a British writer and journalist based in Iraqi Kurdistan. She writes for a range of publications including the Independent, Newsweek, BBC, TIME, Vogue, Politico, Monocle, the Guardian and the Telegraph. She is a regular commentator on TV and radio, talking about Iraq and the war with ISIS.