User:Rain and Embers/sandbox

=Rain and Embers= Rain and Embers is a collection of poetry by Iraqi-American poet Ali Nuri. The collection describes his experiences as an Iraqi refugee, a New American, and the tension that underlies both identities. Migration, violence, religion, philosophy, love, and forgiveness are common themes explored throughout the work.

Rain and Embers was published on August 4, 2019.

Background
This collection stems from the author's personal experiences as a refugee. At three years old, Ali Nuri's family was forced to flee their home in southern Iraq by Saddam Hussein during the First Gulf War. The family was held in a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia for four years while waiting for their asylum claims to be processed by the United States. The camp was overcrowded, unhygienic, and lacking in resources as the refugees often endured periods with limited food.

More than 35,000 Iraqi refugees were held in camps in Rafha, Saudi Arabia. The refugees faced hostility within the camps from the Saudi guards who labeled their beliefs as "blasphemy". Many were forcibly returned to Iraq where their fates became unknown. There were repeated reports of outbreaks of violence in the camps, resulting in Saudi guards killing some of the refugees.

Themes
Rain and Embers navigates numerous subjects, including emigration, homeland, family, relationships, art, and race.