Bookshelf and Purchase

A new Book: - Turkmenistan; After Niyazov [Politics and Energy]
Muhammad Tahir

Prague [6 January, 2008]- I am currently working on a book project, which will be focused on the recent history of Turkmenistan. This book will highlight the complex domestic political and social developments in the country, it’s energy policy, and it’s role and implications on society.

     Turkmenistan- the 5th largest gas-rich nation in the world, a landlocked country, smaller then California by territory, located in highly strategic part of Central Asia, bordering Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the Caspian Sea - has suddenly found itself independent after the collapse of Soviet Union on 27 October, 1991.

     After the independency, the leader of the Communist Party of Turkmenistan - Saparmurat Niyazov - became country’s first and absolute leader, who kept all power to himself, and ruled the country with unprecedented personality cult, autorotation style and isolated public from entire world for two long decades.

     Niyazov, who often compared with Kim-II of North Korea, has passed away on 21 December, 2006, leaving much surprise and many question marks in mind, yet this is a country, which many know little about.
With publication of this book, it has been intended to fill this information gap and  address all questions about Turkmenistan’s much wondered domestic politics, financial and social picture and balances, while a huge chapter will be devoted to the domestic policies of new leadership as well as it’s international relations.

  The Book is expected to be on the market by mid-2008, and will be in English.

Illegal Dating
A Journey into the Private Life of Iran

In 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini seized control of Iran and ushered in one of the most oppressive societies the world has ever seen. In Iran, music is illegal, and a man and woman who are not married can face a harsh prison sentence for the most casual of contact. But such strict laws have failed to completely squelch the spirit of Iranian youth, many of whom risk their lives to rebel against this rigid social system and claim their right to personal freedom. To understand how this can happen, the author began chatting with several Iranian young people online. He discovered that many of them have embraced cyberspace and use its anonymity as a shield that allows them to condemn the government’s control of all facets of citizens’ lives.
Illegal Dating: A Journey into the Private Life of Iran is the record of a trip to Iran to meet these fascinating young men and women who take chances not just online, but in their daily lives too. The author meets young men and women who date, fall in love, and even have sexual relationships on their own terms, despite family scorn and the threat of punishment from the government.
This book is expected on the market soon, and will be published in the English language.

Purchase this book

‘Papa: we are sorry’
In this book, young people describe their experiences and feelings as they try to find at least some hope for the future in one of the most troubled area of the world.
Pakistan is surrounded by regional conflicts, such as the decades-long Afghan war, and by its long-term rival India, But internal conflict, too, has created tremendous problems directly affecting young people.
This book looks at how Pakistan's young people are reacting to this situation, and examines the impact such conflicts are having on young people and their hopes for the future.
This book was initially published in Pakistan's official language, Urdu, in 2000. It has been accredited and recommended by the Education Ministry for distribution throughout the country's schools and Universities.