Events- Breaking the Silence at Graduate Institute, Geneva

In the past month, I attended a documentary screening- Writing Hawa, organised by Human Rights Conflict & Peace Initiative. The movie directed by Najiba Noori was a great starter to spark a conversation on what's happening in Afghanistan, girl child education and alot more pressing issues. During the apero, in chat with organisers, they mentioned a few more movies talking about human rights and other issues. 

"Art is the most powerful medium to mobilise and raise issues," the organisers shared. I was so happy that they were acting on it, organising film screenings, hosting spaces for dialogue. As the initiative came up with one more event, I was looking forward to catch up with it. I decided to attend the event without checking up on the details of speakers. I wish I had done some basic research before I attended the event. Ginevra was moderating the event with Mohamedou along with Professor Don Walicek. Next time, I'll try to do my own research. 

As I walked to the event, I was suprised for a houseful event as the previous documentary screening was barely filled with people. Mohamedou Ould Slahi is an author of Guantanamo Diary, the Mauritanian who spent 15 years in prison without any charges held by United States. He was first prisoned in Jordan, then in Bagram and finally in Guantanamo Bay. Mohamedou wrote the memoir in 2005. In 2015 the book got published with 2500 redactions. In 2017, it was republished without any redactions.

As I began to listen to the speaker Mohamedou, he brought in a cheerful energy in the event. A lot of laughter, honest remarks on his journey narrating his experience with a lot of honesty and grace. Mohamedou shared the way he endured the torture and the whole journey. "I love democracy. I love this institution. I don't think American people and their money deserve to be spent on Guantanamo Bay, as it brings no good for anyone," he shared. 

In 2000s M's cousin once called him from Bin Laden's phone and that one call brought him to suspicion and landed him behind the bars. 

Recounting the way he was prisoned post 9/11, he narrated his chat with mom during the tense situation. When police came to his house without any warrant and was taking him away, he recounted the narrative with his mother. "Do you know why those police came to our house to catch you? Because you watch TV! I told you to not watch this TV alot." Mothers being mothers. M was sharing the horrific experiences with humour and laughter. He further shared how he was informed of his mother's death. 

On being asked about having regrets, Mohamedou shared that he doesn't regret speaking to his cousin, he doesn't regret the hardships he endured in prison. 'I regret snapping at my mother. I regret being harsh to my friends. I regret being angry with all my loved ones. I always felt, I wish I was more kind to my loved ones. That's the only regret I live with,' he shared.

Don Walicek gave a presentation on Guantanamo Bay and it's context & history. He shared how he got a chance to visit and manage to get a few pictures despite clicking a lot. At the end of the day, the offiicers deleted as 'it'd reveal too much.'

As audience asked how M was able to forgive the people who tortured him, he replied with a funny anecdote.

'How many of you had heart breaks? he raised his hand waiting for the responses. A couple of raised hands in the hall. He said, there are two ways to go ahead. Forgive and move ahead. The other way is to stalk them, see who liked who, who commented on their post and all that. I'm lazy. It's easy to forgive than do all of that work!' 

Listening to such funny narratives with honest responses in between, Angello asked how does one deal with the pain and fear by such experiences?

M answered- 'By comedy. The laugh comes out of pain. The poetry come out of this pain and fear. Bring out in art from all you go through,' he suggested. The art shared by Al Sabri Qureshi was presented at the event. I got reminded of T.M Krishna's effort on Art in Prisons, an attempt that everyone deserves art and most importantly the one who are enclosed behind the walls!

The event was truly breaking the silence on the dictatorial and inhumane activities done by the oppressive government.

The event got ended by M's poem recitation. Thanks GISA and HRCP for hosting this. As ever, walked out of the auditorium being inspired to be more kind and empower people through art and stories.