Thirteen Suitcases to Freedom

**Thirteen Suitcases to Freedom** is the deeply personal memoir of Anan and Zina, a husband and wife who returned to Baghdad in 1975, only to find themselves and their family living through decades of dictatorship, war, fear, and uncertainty.

Through intimate memories, heartbreaking stories, and moments of unexpected humour, they reveal what ordinary life was like under Saddam Hussein's regime, during the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War. Their experiences include vanished loved ones, political oppression, encounters with those close to power, and the daily struggle to protect their family and preserve hope.

In 1991, after years of living under extraordinary circumstances, Anan and Zina made the life-changing decision to leave Iraq with their three children. They carried with them just thirteen suitcases-but also their memories, courage, and hope for a new beginning.

An honest and moving story of **survival, family, freedom, loss, and the enduring human search for a better life.**