Safar Book Launch

Safar: Muslim Women's Stories of Travel and Transformation is a beautifully illustrated gift book that explores the emotional and spiritual aspects of journeying. Through a series of interviews with Muslim women from diverse backgrounds, Australian journalist Sarah Malik considers personal growth and self-knowledge in the context of travel.  Safar is the Urdu and Arabic word for ‘journey’. Whether it be travelling to a new country or a new locale, or how these experiences affect the way Muslim women perceive and understand the world, Sarah weaves together her own experiences of travel with the thoughts and feelings of women who share their own adventures and challenges. There are fascinating stories of love and friendship, as well as stories of how travel connects to roots, spirituality, confidence, identity, privilege and inspiration.  Featuring stunning illustrations by Amani Haydar, this is an important and loving book that centres the experiences and perspectives of Muslim women, offering insights for readers from all backgrounds.

About Sarah

Sarah Malik is a Walkley award winning investigative journalist, author and speaker. She is the author of Safar: Muslim Women’s Stories of Travel and Transformation.  She has lived in Jordan, climbed Asia’s highest peak Kinabalu and travelled to over a dozen countries including Japan, Turkey, Palestine, Pakistan and India.  Her first book ‘Desi Girl: On feminism, race, faith and belonging’ was published in 2022 by UQP.

About Farah

Farah Celjo is a television presenter, editor, and avid traveller who 99 per cent of the time plans travel around a meal. She is passionate about food, travel, running and telling stories.

About Amani

Amani Haydar is an award winning writer, visual artist and advocate for women’s health and safety based in Western Sydney. Amani’s debut memoir The Mother Wound was awarded the 2022 ABIA Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the year and the 2021 Fbi Radio Sydney Music Art and Culture Award. Amani is a former Archibald Prize finalist with a visual arts practice closely intertwined with her writing practice.