A vigil of love

In the light of recent events, my dear friend and comrade sister Sairah organised an impromptu vigil in honour of MP Jo Cox who was so brutally murdered in an act of what I can only describe as violent extremism, while doing the work that she loved and serving the people she deeply cared about. I never knew Jo Cox personally, but have good friends who had worked with her, met with her, and known her. They all echoed the same sentiment stating, she had been a formidable humanitarian who championed many causes as an activist, and then as an elected MP.

She was an inspiration, and had touched many lives. Last night felt like a reflection of who she was, and embodied all the causes she cared most about. We witnessed people from all diverse communities join in solidarity to pay their respects. We heard from a friend and colleague who shed light on her family life, as a mother and wife. Members of the Syrian community shared their immense sense of grief and loss of someone who had been so vocal about their cause, and the oppression of their people, being snatched away in the manner that she was.

She was a champion of unity, inclusion, women’s rights, social justice, a mother, a wife, and a woman who had not only won a position, but won many hearts.

Jo's husband, Brendan stated "......she would want us to unite to fight against the hatred that killed her. Hate doesn’t have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous."

Yesterday was just that; an opportunity to rise above the hate, rise above those that are adamant to divide us, and create animosity between us. To rise above those who want to create fear and a “them and us” mentality, and I’m so honoured to have been asked to capture this day in images.

I leave you with the words of Martin Luther King Jr

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Aisha Mirza

event organisers and speakers

Organiser: Sairah

Chair: Dr Siema Iqbal

Speakers:

- Julie Ward MP

-Angela Raynor MP Ashton Under Lyne

- Yasmine Nahlawi, British Syrian Community of Manchester Rethink Rebuild Society

- Ilyas Nagdee, Diversity Officer at the University of Manchester

- Charlotte Hughes, Community Activist and blogger of "The Poor Side of Life"

- Nahella Ashraf, Stand Up To Racism

- Karyl Ann Cross, independent intercultural minister

- Charlotte Nichols, Women's Officer for Young Labour

- Tony Erizia, community activist and member of Manchester Palestine Action

"The Confession"

12th of June 2016 I had the opportunity to attend the world premier of "The Confession" by Ashish Ghadiali as part of the Sheffield ‪Doc Fest‬.

This film takes you on a journey, which is both challenging and broadens your perception. Cinematically seamless, with enough light and shade, tension, and tears, there are many points when answers to questions which may have been on the mind, or at the tip of your tongue, reveal themselves. Ashish has managed to create a masterpiece.

This first hand personal account of Moazzam Begg; a man born and bred in Birmingham, who has spent time in prisons, in Afghanistan, Cuba and the UK, who has experienced kidnap and extraordinary rendition, torture and abuse, is a man who softly smiles, and holds no hate. A man, many would willfully character assassinate, who the media have many a time maligned and scapegoated, is a man who continues to search for truth and justice.

Though hearing Moazzams' story many times, on many platforms, and after reading his book Enemy Combatant, this film has taken me further. It meanders not only through the series of events which unfolded in his life leading up to his arrest, during detentions and interrogations, but also the nuances of his mindset, his thought process, and his quest for logical understanding from illogical reason

A film which keeps you in its' grip throughout.

Well done to the production team, and thankyou Moazzam.

I look forward to seeing this screened nationally and internationally.

A must see!

Syria, Sarajevo, Manchester- Beyond the Statistics

I was part of this event today organised by my dear friend and comrade Sairah Yassir as part of Manchester Histories Festival 2016 which took place at Manchester Central Library. We heard the real stories behind the headlines, from survivors of war, past and present now residing in Manchester.

We listened to Dudia Zilic and her son Aldin retell their harrowing journey from Sarajevo to safety. Under raining bombs, during the dead of night, they hid in the back of a timber truck with no food or water while it meandered through the hills switching off it's lights.

We heard Yasser Al-Jassem from the British Syrian Community of Manchester share his treacherous journey who told us how he had fled Syria having to leave his family behind. He was a wanted man and death awaited him at every corner, so he took to the sea in a boat. He was a teacher in his country and his only wish was to return one day.

Ali Ilyas shared his powerfully intense spokenword poem about who we blame for the refugee crisis, and that perhaps if we understood what it is that they run from, then we would have a different opinion or perspective.

I only managed to finish my poem last night, but I wanted to humanise the word "refugee". If only we could be more empathic, and see them as the people they truly are, with their own narratives, families and histories, unlike what some media would like us to believe, then this word would not feel as much as the slur it feels today.

If we could stop the wars then there would be no refugees. They didn't, and don't have any desire to leave, but while bombs keep falling they are left with no other choice.

May we see change soon.

Laila The Musical

Watched Laila this evening at the Lowry. A remake of a what is understood to be one of the greatest love stories from the East.

Two star crossed lovers Laila and Qays (Majnu) whose warring families keep them apart.

"how can bridges be built over rivers of blood."

Qays reels further into the depths of his hearts call, where people begin to call him a "madman." While he recites poetry, his only desire is to be with his love.

"He was drowning in a sea of love before he even knew what love was."

Laila is tired of living behind the walls, under the guise of honour and dignity and wants only to be free. Qays is her mirror, and with him is where she wishes to be.

What an amazing piece of theatre. Brilliantly scripted and beautifully put together. The compositions, the staging, lighting, the whole production was simply faultless and well worth the watch.