Bradford Literature Festival (BLF) is delighted to be hosting former first minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf as he launches his autobiography Under Fire: My Family’s Escape from Gaza and The Cost of Leadership.
When Scotland’s First Minister, Humza Yousaf, got a call from Gaza on the morning of 7 October 2023, he feared the worst. His wife’s parents, Elizabeth and Maged, had been visiting the Palestinian territory to see Maged’s sick mother and found themselves trapped as violence escalated on both sides.
In Under Fire: My Family’s Escape from Gaza and The Cost of Leadership, Yousaf recounts the month that followed: coordinating across governments to get his in-laws to safety via the Rafah crossing, while leading Scotland through one of the most fraught periods in its recent history and reassuring a traumatised Jewish community, all under intense public scrutiny. The book has been described as ‘deeply moving’ by Annie Lennox and ‘a brave and moving book of impressive moral clarity’ by William Dalrymple.
Yousaf is no stranger to BLF, having appeared in 2026 when he interviewed Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot as well as chairing the event Freedom for Whom? When Democracies become Afraid. Both events were very well received by festival goers, and BLF are delighted to be welcoming Yousaf back for this very special event.
Taking place on Thursday 22 October at the University of Bradford, one of BLF’s partners, Yousaf will talk about the book, as well as his own journey from the son of immigrants to the first Muslim leader of a Western European country. He’ll reflect on the rise of far-right populism, and on what he believes true leadership demands: holding personal loyalty and public duty together, and keeping hold of empathy when the pressure is greatest.
Humza Yousaf, author and former first minster of Scotland, said, “Bradford Literature Festival is a truly special festival, a wonderful beacon for culture in the north of England, and I’m really looking forward to this event with them. I had a brilliant experience at the 2026 festival hearing other people’s stories, and I can’t wait to share my own.”
Syima Aslam, CEO and Artistic Director at BLF, said, “Humza’s book is an incredibly powerful memoir coming at an incredibly important time for humanity. It provides a unique perspective into recent global events, and I’m delighted that Humza is sharing his story at BLF.”
Tickets for the event are on sale now: www.bradfordlitfest.co.uk/event/under-fire-in-conversation-with-humza-yousaf.