Malika Oufkir

Malika Oufkir is a Moroccan-French writer and human rights activist born in 1953, whose powerful memoir 'Stolen Lives' (La Prisonnière) became an international bestseller. The daughter of a high-ranking Moroccan general, Oufkir's life took a dramatic turn when her father was implicated in a coup attempt against King Hassan II. At age six, Malika and her entire family were arrested and imprisoned in brutal Moroccan prisons, where they endured torture, starvation, and psychological torment for over two decades. Her memoir, published in 1999, provides a harrowing and intimate account of survival, family bonds, and resistance against state oppression. The book has been translated into multiple languages and adapted for screen, bringing international attention to Morocco's human rights abuses during that era. Oufkir's courageous testimony and her work as an activist have made her a symbol of resilience and the power of bearing witness to injustice. She has also appeared in documentaries and given lectures worldwide about her experiences.