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One brother goes missing in action in Afghanistan, the other falls in love with an Afghan girl in England.
Bitter divisions engulf an English town where young Muslims oppose the British army's presence in Afghanistan, whilst white youth condemn the Muslims as traitors.
To the disgust of his white friends, 17-year-old Jake Marlesden, whose brother is missing in action in Afghanistan, is in love with Leila Khan, an Afghan. When Jake tries to find out what happened to his brother, neighbour turns against neighbour and lover against lover.
Leila joins young Muslims protesting against the returning bodies of dead British soldiers, and Jake stands with the families of the soldiers. The lovers fall apart.
But far off events, and sinister forces at home, bring the lovers together again in a journey in which they will not only discover themselves, but also heal the wounds of their families and friends.
You're Not Here is the sequel to the award-winning novel You're Not Proper.
About the author
Tariq Mehmood is a writer and filmmaker. He has authored several novels, including Hand on the Sun (Penguin 1983/Daraja Press 2024), which he wrote awaiting trial as part of the Bradford 12 - a group of young men arrested for organizing armed self-defense to protect their community in Bradford, northern England. Tariq was a leading defendant in the case, which carried the potential of life imprisonment. After a national and interna- tional campaign, all defendants were acquitted. The case of the Bradford 12 established the legal right of a community under threat to organize its own self-defense, including armed resistance.
Tariq is currently directing a feature-length documentary about this landmark case, which will be accompanied by a book. He is also the co director of the award-winning film Injustice, which exposed the scandal of police impunity in custodial deaths in the UK.
Tariq teaches at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.
