Amazing Poetry and Moving Personal Recollections at "Words for the Silenced"

Amnesty Westminster and Bayswater, Amnesty Mayfair Soho and Exiled Writers Ink in collaboration with the Regent’s University Liberal Studies Department hosted on 11 March a poetry human rights event,  "Words for the Silenced" to a large, appreciative audience. The event took place at Regent's University. 

The event presented poetry and personal recollections about seven poets and writers from five countries:

• Ahmed Mansoor (United Arab Emirates)
• Varavara Rao (India)
• Mahvash Sabet (Iran)
• Golrokh Iraee (Iran)
• Galal El-Behairy (Egypt)
• Alaa Abd El-Fattah (Egypt) and
• İlhan Sami Çomak (Turkey).

The Poems were read mainly by acting students (Regent’s University Liberal Studies Department) . Many of the readings were both moving and defiant assertions of the importance of human rights to those Individuals surviving in the most oppressive conditions.

The event was delighted to have so many wonderful speakers who introduced the writers. All of the speakers know the prisoners personally and provided background to the poets and their, often, appalling prison conditions, but also personal recollections of these remarkable people. The spkeakers included Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe (and her husband Richard), a video message by Mona Seif, the journalist Bill Law, Carline Stockford (PEN Norway) and many others. You can find all speakers and short biographies in the programme which you can download. 

Letters to the authorities on behalf of the poets as well as cards to Varavara Rao and İlhan Sami Çomak personally were also signed by members of the audience.

If you want to know more about the poets, then please read the blog post "Words for the Silenced – The Poets – ciluna27's Blog (wordpress.com)" written by one of our members. You find there also a second blog post "Words for the Silenced – The Event – ciluna27's Blog (wordpress.com)" in which you can find details about the event including many photos and video clips. 

Please have also a look at our YouTube Channel for individual video clips from the event as well as a playlist, Please campaign for this prisoners and watch and share the video clips.