Don't Ask the Trees for Their Names

In this richly woven collection, nine Arab women share deeply personal stories of migration to Australia. Contributors Mariam Maatooq, Loubna Haikal, Mary Hanoun-Khilla, Sivine Tabbouch, Hend Saab, Kilda Eid, Camilia Naim, Oula Ghannoum, and Nouha El-Khoury Francis each reflect on the legacies of their homelands - Palestine, Sudan, Lebanon, and beyond - and the complexities of forging new lives far from home.

In their own voices, these women explore the challenges of adaptation, the resilience born from adversity, the quiet moments of joy, and the enduring ties to culture and heritage. With unflinching honesty, they examine Australian society while confronting some of the world's most pressing political injustices through the lens of lived experience.

A powerful testament to both individuality and community, Don't Ask the Trees for Their Names: Stories of Leaving and Becoming seeks to dismantle stereotypes in a world that too often reduces identity to simple categories. This compelling anthology inspires readers to rise above the barriers of sexism and racism, offering an urgent and unapologetic chorus of truth.

Edited by Oula Ghannoum and Loubna Haikal. Published by Gazebo Books, 2025.

Oula Ghannoum was born in Tripoli, Lebanon, and is currently a Professor of Plant Biology at Western Sydney University. An internationally renowned expert in plant photosynthesis, her research addresses the twin challenges of food security and climate change. She has published over 100 scientific articles. Beyond science, Oula is passionate about Sufism and storytelling as integrative forms of knowledge. She is currently working on a trilogy exploring her own and her family's migration to Gadigal Land, Australia.

Loubna Haikal was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and migrated to Australia as a teenager. A trained medical doctor, she worked as a GP before turning to writing. She is the author of Seducing Mr. Maclean (Picador, 2002), along with several short stories and plays. A mother of three sons and a grandmother, Loubna lives on the land of the Gadigal people in Merro-berah.