Authors' Note

In the following novel, Saeid and I tell the story of one family's experiences with the Ayatollah Khomeini's brand of fundamentalist, radical, tyrannical Islam. By telling this true story, it is not meant in any way to disparage Islam in general. Nor do the experiences described necessarily apply to the more than 1.9 billion faithful, peaceful, innocent Muslims of good will.

While we have taken some liberty with the historical record, this is a novel, inspired by a true story. It contains much that is solely from the Author's imagination and logical projections based on reality. As a novel, it is meant to entertain while presenting in an authentic historic context that informs the reader about conditions and events of which they may not be aware.

The major parts of this novel that relate to this historical context are substantively true and supported by testimony from our lead character's real-life alter ego, by eyewitness accounts, and from well documented scholarly sources. (See our Suggested Readings.)

The imaginary parts of this fictional narrative are primarily in the conversations that give life to true events. The addition of a few characters and incidents are designed to add excitement and flavor.

The novel underscores the urgent importance of its message about the global crisis linked to self-identified elements of Islam. Consequently, Saeid and I feel compelled to state our firm belief that extreme Islam is a betrayal of, and a seditious profanity against true Islam.

Today, this is more than adequately illustrated by the late Ayatollah Khomeini's tyrannical Islamic Republic, by his successors, and by fundamentalist, terrorist organizations, all of which perpetrate violence and hatred in the name of Allah and His Prophet.

As Bernard Lewis stated:

Most Muslims are not fundamentalists, and most fundamentalists are not terrorists, but most present-day terrorists are Muslims and proudly identify themselves as such... The callous destruction of thousands in the World Trade Center, including many who were not American, some of the Muslims from Muslim countries, has no justification in Islamic doctrine or law and no precedent in Islamic history. Indeed, there are few acts of comparable deliberate and indiscriminate wickedness in human history. Indeed, there are few acts of comparable deliberate and indiscriminate wickedness in human history. These are not just crimes against humanity and against civilization; they are also acts - from a Muslim point of view - of blasphemy, when those who perpetrate such crimes claim to be doing so in the name of God, His Prophet, and His scriptures. [1]

- Bernard Lewis

Such extremes are nothing short of a malignant cancer on the reputation and credibility of traditional Islam

As with all cancers, especially ones that are threatening the health of the body, its existence as a malicious enemy must be recognized and attacked.

Islam is the host which birthed this cancer and is therefore accountable for its actions and atrocities. We respectfully call on all peace-loving elements of Islam to act swiftly and decisively while there is still time to contain such a deviant and blasphemous form of your faith. Your house is on fire. Lead the world in extinguishing this expanding inferno before all our houses become worthless ashes in a new Dark Age.

[1] Lewis, Bernard, The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror (New York, NY: Modern Library, 2003), pp. 137 and 154. Used by permission.