This’ll be my first departure from Australia since repatriating nearly a decade ago. After spending 20 years based in Verbier, Switzerland, I’ve been rediscovering Australian culture, from Sydney to Yamba, Sandy Beach to Tamworth, to Newcastle, to Auburn in Sydney, before moving north again to Byron Bay. It seems settling down is not to be a quick and easy process for me.

I met comedian Akmal Saleh one night in a service station outside Tweed Heads. I was returning from the Gold Coast having watched the ‘crew screening’ of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, when who did I see filling up petrol in front of me? Akmal Saleh no less.

Being a fan, and knowing he’s a resident of the Byron Shire I thought I’d go say g’day and see if he’d do a comedy piece for my www.byronvibe.com website. With a flash of his brooding eyes and a shrug of his shoulders, his inimitable pursed grin replied “yeah, sure”.

A couple weeks later, we were wandering down main street in Byron, vox popping with Frank and some other randoms, having a laugh. (View clips here

After several months passed I get a call from Akmal asking if I’d be interested in going to Egypt to shoot a story. I had to think for all of a micro second before responding with an emphatic YES.

Of course the project had a low probability of coming off, as every project seems to at first in the film biz, so I didn’t get too excited as it was february and the trip was scheduled for August. There was a while to go and any number of factors could cancel the project, the instability of the new military government but one of note.

But we had good advice on that matter from an expert on Egyptian affairs who had recently returned from Egypt as well as another friend of Akmal’s who’d been a solicitor in Egypt for many years, and that seemed good enough for me.

Months rolled by. A couple of meetings at Lulu’s in Mullum. Phone calls from Akmal and I’m thinking, “this guy’s serious! Maybe it will happen!”

Sam has been a solicitor in Egypt for many years

Mitigating circumstances meant Akmal had to go in August or he couldn’t go at all… We tried to get a couple of production companies on board, but really time had run out and we had to make a decision: Go it alone or cancel the trip. But Akmal was keen, so with a month left he said “let’s go!”

New passport and visas had to be sorted. Camera equipment had to be sourced. The desire to shoot with Sony’s latest F3 rig had to give way to the reality of running gun in a place like the streets of Egypt and we decided on Sony’s less cumbersome and more discreet EX1, a compact yet high def solution from the friendly guys at Pro Cam in Brisbane.

With a week to go, packing down my gypsy abode should have been an easy process, but a spent tension pulley in the fan belt config meant I had to tow it to the Gold Coast at a cost which would have been better spent on the trip to Europe (yes, Europe, after Egypt, but that’s another story). The damn plastic spindle cost 90 bucks but the replacement of it cost $800 as they had to pull the front end off…

This setback could only be looked at one way. As a preparation to the many contigencies that I knew Egypt was going to throw at me once we were on the ground. Like a war of attrition I began to cross tasks off my list of things to do, before finally cramming tripod, audio gear, cameras and lenses, clothes, laptop and mobile-office kit into two backpacks and a ready-to-shoot bag. About a 50kg load all up.

Parking the ‘Hotel Benz’ at Karin’s (thanks Karin) I loaded my gear into Catie’s Van (Akmal’s wife and the production’s Line Producer) before we proceeded to the Gold Coast airport. The plan was for me to go two weeks prior to them to film the Abu El Haggag religious festival in Luxor which was advertised as being on the 17th and 18th July. This festival is a coming together of Muslims and Christians in a two day parade through the streets of Luxor around the ancient mosque of Abu El Haggag.

Abu El Haggag Mosque and Temple

Nothing like getting thrown in the deep end, on my own in a country I’ve never been to, don’t speak the language of (hoping my french will get me by if English doesn’t), with some expensive camera kit in tow, much to the consternation of family and friends who see the evening news regarding instability in the region…

But I was on my way to the airport, the one sure sign a project is on and the only time one allows oneself to get excited about the journey ahead, because today, I’m off to Egypt.

KurdishRights.org: Could you please tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

Rêber: I am a Syrian Kurd, I live in Aleppo, I prefer not to disclose my age and occupation because that would make it easy for Syrian Intelligences to locate me and arrest me, and that would be a serious threat to my life. I love Syria and I am afraid for it.

KR: Could you tell us a little bit about the protests happening in Aleppo and whether Kurds are participating?

Rêber: There are small protests in Aleppo and Kurds are participating – in Kobanî (which is officially called Ain Al-Arab, Eye of the Arabs) as well as other non-Kurdish protests in Saif Al-Dawleh, Sharea Al-Neel, Bab Al-Hadeed and the university dorm. During the last three decades, the iron fist of security forces in Aleppo was so powerful and merciless, which made the people of Aleppo be in a permanent state of fear from security forces. Fear is preventing Aleppo from one big revolution that would ultimately topple the regime.

KR: Since the uprising began, which Kurdish towns and neighborhoods witnessed protests?

Rêber: The most remarkable was in Qamişlo city – about 10,000 people participated in protests on Friday, May 20. That day of protests was called Azadi Friday; “Azadî” is Kurdish for freedom. In Amûdê about 8,000 people participated in protests on Azadi Friday. In Aleppo, Kobanî about 5,000 people joined protests on Azadi Friday. In Serê Kaniyê (Ras Al-Ain) and Al-Derbasieh saw protests with about 3,000 protesters in each on Azadi Friday. In Efrîn there was a protest of about 150 people but it was immediately surrounded by security forces and twelve were arrested.

KR: Do you think that the Kurds of Syria have decided to throw their support behind the Syrian uprising, or are most of them still waiting to see how the situation develops?

Rêber: I believe most Kurds are waiting to know which way things are going. There are many reasons why security forces haven’t opened fire on Kurdish protests until now:
A. The regime’s propaganda of fundamentalists can’t be applied to Kurds.
B. The regime already has enough troubles, they don’t want to gain themselves one more enemy.
C. There are large numbers of Kurds outside Syria, especially in the south of Turkey, a land that borders many Syrian Kurdish towns, let alone Kurds in Europe, the regime can’t handle more external pressure.
D. many Kurds are members of organized Kurdish parties and that makes it easy for them to organize protests with large numbers of participants.

KR: What do you think it the reasons for this hesitance?
Rêber: I believe the revolution doesn’t have a clear agenda, we need to know where it is going, we don’t want to just topple the regime, the revolution should have a clear, national and democratic scheme that includes all Syrian sects. I personally don’t want Syria to be a fundamentalist country; I don’t want it to be a copy Iran.

KR: Why do you think protests in Kurdish towns have persisted despite Assad’s decree that would give back citizenship to “foreign” stateless Kurds?

Rêber: Syrian citizenship was taken from “foreign” Kurds in 1962 while they had it back then. Assad’s decree doesn’t “give back” Syrian citizenship to stateless Kurds, it “endows” it to them as if they were really foreigners not from Syria. There are about 60,000 Kurds who didn’t enlist themselves as “foreign Kurds” when Syrian citizenship was taken from them, they are known as “Maktoumee Al-Qaid” which might be translated as “register muted” and Assad’s decree doesn’t give back citizenship to those. Kurds are a victim of Sykes-Picot agreement which divided Kurdistan into four parts, we are not intruders. Kurds in Syria aren’t allowed to have schools to teach Kurdish, Kurds don’t have cultural, social or political rights in Syria.

KR: There has been a debate among pundits and analysts about why the Kurds have adopted Syrian national symbols in their protests (like the Syrian flag, and chants about willing to sacrifice one’s life for Syria). One theory is that his happened because the identity of Kurdish Syrians has changed and they see themselves as Syrians first and wish to stay as a part of Syria, another theory is that this change is merely tactical and is designed to prevent the Syrian regime from claiming that all protesters are separatists.
Only six years ago, during the Qamişlo protests, Kurds were still using Kurdish national symbols like the Kurdish flag. Why do you think such a change occurred?

Rêber: During the 2004 protests in Qamişlo we learned that our problem lies in Damascus and it should be solved in Damascus, the constitution must settle this dispute, we are in Syria not in Kurdistan and our dilemma is of Syrian origins.

KR: What is your personal view of the protests? Do you support them? Do you think they’ve gained enough momentum to oust Assad?

Rêber: Protests are public peaceful movements and I support political, democratic and peaceful movements that aim at defending human rights. I won’t participate in protests because they get subdued by security forces, hundreds have been killed and thousands have been arrested by security forces, thugs and pro-regime people. The regime is protecting itself through security forces and the army; it is ready to commit the most heinous genocides to survive and not be prosecuted.

KR: If Assad is overthrown, what kind of a Syria would you like to see? What kinds of rights do you want Kurds to have in that Syria?

Rêber: I want a democratic government; I want the constitution to acknowledge that there are Kurds in Syria and to give them their social, cultural and political rights. We need free and honest media. The protection of Syrian citizens should be a governmental top priority.

Originally posted in KurdishRights.org

Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Matthew Cassel, I am a photographer and journalist from Chicago currently living in Beirut.

What prompted you to begin this project of photographing migrant domestic workers in Lebanon?

I began working on this issue after Theresa Seda, a 28-year-old domestic worker and mother of three from the Philippines, fell to her death from the seventh floor balcony of her employer’s home across the street from my home in Beirut.

Soon after I was approached by KAFA (Enough) Violence and Exploitation, a Lebanese NGO that is doing research and advocacy work on the issue of violence against women in Lebanon, which includes migrant domestic workers. We wanted to put together a photo project that showed the lives and culture of these women to accompany KAFA’s important research.

The title of your work is “Unseen Lives”. Why do you think Lebanese society is generally unaware of the lives of expatriate domestic workers?

It’s not only Lebanese society that is unaware of the lives of workers, whether they be foreigners or locals. Around the world, especially in my native country the US, workers often go unnoticed and unappreciated for their importance in society. Do most shoppers go to the grocery store and think about who makes the various products or who harvests and delivers fruits and vegetables? And even when we see workers every day like those working construction or collecting garbage, how often do most stop and think about that worker’s story? I would say “unseen lives” is a universal term to describe workers around the world who are rarely given a voice by most mainstream media and popular culture.

However, the situation is a bit different in a country like Lebanon where more and more migrants are coming in search of work and are increasingly being denied even the most basic rights. The situation is more dire here than other places, especially considering the increasing number of domestic workers who have died in recent years, and I think it’s an issue that should spark outrage and force people to act immediately.

Some of the photographs from the essay were shot inside the homes the maids worked in and documented their daily routine. What are you observations about their working and living conditions? Do you think those conditions may differ in other homes?

Conditions differ from home to home. But in my opinion, hiring a woman to live and work inside your home leaving her with no separation between her personal and work life is enough to be considered exploitation and mistreatment. In every home where women both work and live, they are “at work” 24/7 (there is even a new activist group called 24/7 that organizes to support domestic workers). They can be woken up in the middle of the night to take care of a sick child or leaky faucet. Never, except for those who are actually allowed a day off, are they “off the clock” and away from their work. And usually a day off means a few hour break on Sunday or other day when most women have to spend that time constantly checking the clock so they don’t violate their curfew and upset their employers. Since workers have little to no protection, the few rights they might have are entirely at the whim of the employer and can be taken away at any second. The employer can give them additional work, not allow them a day off, and take advantage of them in other ways. Therefore, many workers who I met share a sense of not wanting to upset their employer, or, “keep madame happy” as I heard some women say.

In the few homes where I photographed, women were treated well and were happy with their jobs. As I say in the project’s statement, this body of photographs in no way accurately portrays the lives of most domestic workers in this country. Those who I could photograph had a “better” situation than most in the sense that they were able to leave their employers’ homes or their employers were comfortable asking their domestic workers if I could photograph them in the work place. Obviously, an employer who mistreats or abuses their worker wouldn’t want to allow an American photographer in to expose that situation. But I know that such situations do exist and that they are not rare. Many women who have been here for a few years or more have had more than one employer, and they described to me how either they or other workers who they know have faced or are currently facing abuse and mistreatment from their employers. It’s frightening to hear these stories knowing that there is very little that can be done in most cases.

Theresa Seda was an example of this. In the two months that she worked in Lebanon, she was never able to leave the home unless it was to take care of her employer’s kids when the family went out. She was essentially a prisoner in her employer’s home although she committed no crime. And unfortunately, many women face a similar situation.

So, while the conditions may differ slightly from home to home, in general the system of hiring foreign women as domestic workers is broken and needs to be fixed.

Were you able to communicate with some of the maids? What did they tell you about working conditions? What are their perceptions of Lebanese society?

I was able to communicate with many different women from every country that domestic workers in Lebanon come from. And I found that very few women, a definite minority, had positive views of Lebanese society. The overwhelming majority who I spoke with — and mind you these are the workers who have better situations — have become used to living and working in this society and are very critical of the way they’re treated by Lebanese civilians and authorities. Unless a woman has or had an especially good relationship with her employers, it’s rare that she would recall stories of when she felt she had a Lebanese friend or someone she felt she could trust. This helps explain the tightly knit societies that exist between migrant workers. When they can, women reach out to their other countrywomen who they can speak their native language with, and they’ll even reach out to workers from other countries who they might have trouble communicating with just to form a network and strengthen the worker community. Almost all who I’ve met seem to have the attitude that no Lebanese are going to protect them, so they have to protect themselves.

Was there one scene in particular that made an impression on you during the months of photographing migrant domestic workers?

Obviously, Theresa’s death across the street from my home affected me most. It’s difficult to put into words
the feelings I had as I watched her body lie in the street and under the rain covered only by a white tarp held down by a broken plastic chair, a flower pot, and bits of cement. On the street around her body, people walked by and cars passed, it seemed to be business as usual and was very surreal to witness. But it showed me how little rights these foreign women in Lebanon have, even in death. After that moment I had no choice other than to speak out and take action.

The other scenes that affected me most were the ones that I couldn’t photograph. One worker in particular who is a very active member in the worker community and who has also become a very close friend of mine, told me horrific stories every day about new cases of abuses that she discovered through her networks. There is one woman in particular who comes from the same country as she does and who managed to get in touch with my friend and tell her that she needed help. The woman had only one minute to explain on a pay phone as she walked her employer’s dog near their home.

My friend was able to quickly jot down some details about the home and the surrounding area before she told the other worker to write her testimony detailing her situation and the abuse she faced on a piece of paper that she could come pick up from her later. I went with my friend after her job one day, and we spent hours following the clues until we found the house where the woman worked. As we stood across the street looking at the house it was awful to realize that inside a woman was being abused and there was absolutely nothing we could do about it. We had to leave so that my friend could come back and wait around the corner for the next time the worker left with the dog so she can pick up the note from her.

For my friend, this was something she does on a regular basis. She calls it “note-dropping,” sometimes she picks up notes from trash cans, from under balconies, from the grocery store. The notes are just the first step before she takes them to one of the NGOs to see if a lawyer can get involved and help the abused worker. And even when a lawyer does get involved, it’s far from guaranteed that the abused worker can be rescued from her employer.

Seeing the commitment that my friend and so many other workers in Lebanon have to their community left the biggest impression on me. It’s really been an honor for me to get to know people who have no money, no rights, no free time, yet still somehow manage to organize themselves and struggle for justice.

What would you like our readers to know about migrant domestic workers in Lebanon?

I wish that everyone would get to know these women and listen to them talk about their lives, their families, their homes and everything else that they’ve had to leave behind in search of work. Their struggle is incredible and it’s far from over, they deserve our respect and support.

Unseen Lives: Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon – Images by Matthew Cassel

Originally posted on Migrant-Rights.org

After years of observing “Awadia Fishes” expand in size and grow in popularity, I decided to find Awadia, the woman no-one knows much about.

Someone told me she galavants around on one leg.

Does she even exist?

She exists.

Her chocolate-brown skin glistens under the skin and her larger-than-life personality strikes you every-time she utters a word or gives you a smile. She said she feels self-concious when she smiles because half of her teeth are missing. She remains beautiful despite years of living in grinding poverty, sitting under the sun and walking for miles because she couldn’t afford spending money on transportation.

When I asked her to speak about herself, she told me she was born in the mountains, the Nuba Mountains. She later confessed that she was born and raised in Omdurman, but she still feels loyal to her place of origin. She asked me to write that she is from the Nuba Mountains.

She embodies the repercussions of war. Many were forced to flee the south and move to the safety of the north. Even if they’ve never seen the south, they still feel a connection to it. When you are displaced, you start idolizing your home.

Awadia’s journey with the sea started seventeen years ago.

She was working as a tea-lady in different parts of Omdurman , but she couldn’t make enough money to support her family. One day, she asked her daughter to read the Qu’ran. Her daughter read “Surat Al Baqqara” aloud and Awadia repeated after her since she was illiterate. After she finished reading the sura, Awadia went to sleep. She slept for a long time and in her dreams, she had a life-changing vision.

” If I told you about my vision, you wouldn’t believe me. I saw the sea, people working there, a lot of fishermen and fish. I saw fish everywhere. I woke up and I felt very happy,” she said.

Shortly after that, her neighbor suggested they work as sittat -chai in the area close to the sea.

“I started out as a “sit chai” , I used to make tea, coffee and leigemat,” said Awadia.

Struggling to support her many children, Awadia did the unthinkable and worked after 10 am.

“When I first started working as a sit-chai, all the women left the market area before 10 am because it was unacceptable for them to stay after that, but I had no choice but to stay.  I stayed and since I was the only tea-lady there ,I made a lot of extra money.”

To cater to the needs of her growing costumers, she started making traditional Sudanese dishes like Kamoneya and Faseekh. Shortly afterwards, her friend suggested they start making fish. They started buying fish, frying it and selling it.

The building of a restaurant called Golden Gate commenced and the workers building it were helping Awadia’s business grow. She was working day and night to cater to their needs and her income steadily increased. The honeymoon lasted for two to three years until the Council of Omdurman decided to kick out the tea ladies based in that area.

With only a donkey cart, Awadia used to bring fish from the market and sell it at Al Moatamar School in Al-Morada for a little less than a year.

After the Council of Omdurman  came under a lot of criticism for its inhumane actions towards the tea ladies, they allowed Awadia to return.

Awadia returned to her old location and continued making fish. As the number of women making fish and tea increased, they started facing problems.

Once again, Awadia had to collect her belongings and find a new place to start from scratch.

Awadia walked for miles under the boiling sun, too poor to afford a tok-tok, she had to find a place as soon as possible.

She finally found a small store in Kenouz, a neighborhood in Omdurman ,but a few weeks later, someone from the neighborhood filed a complaint and she was kicked out.

She rented another store ,yet again she was kicked out because people in that neighborhood filed a complaint.

“They said I attracted too many costumers and women didn’t feel comfortable walking around,” said Awadia.

Being the person she is, she didn’t hold grudges or complain. She gathered her belongings and began looking for another place.

For two weeks, Awadia walked around Omdurman looking for her next venue. She finally found a makeshift tiny store on Al Morada-street. She sat there for hours looking for the owner and when he finally arrived, he refused to rent it to her.

“He left me sitting there, contemplating, attempting to plan my next move. I prayed Duhr and stayed there for hours. When he came back and found me still sitting there, he said yes. Maybe it was God answering my prayers, but he just agreed,” said Awadia.

“3 months later, I had to leave my store. The council said I was blocking the road with my costumers,”added Awadia.

She was looking for a new location. Her many responsibilities encouraged her to persevere against all odds.

Her final stop was her current restaurant. Located only a few minutes  away from the Omdurman-Khartoum bridge . It’s next to “Coach Fresh Juices”, a tiny store managed by the former coach of the Hilal Club.

“First Awadia used to tell people that she is situated right next to Coach  Fresh , now I tell people I’m next to Awadia Fishes”, said the Coach.

He helped her get the first venue and he also helped her expand into her new restaurant. Her old store is currently where everything is prepared, the new one is modern and caters to families.

Even on a Sunday afternoon, I struggled to find an empty table. It was packed, cars were blocking the road, more people kept arriving. As I entered the restaurant, I saw a group of young women at a table talking and enjoying the fish. The tables are not very close together, giving each group  much-needed privacy.

Decades ago, when Awadia, a young girl disabled by polio embarked on a difficult journey called life, she didn’t know what to expect. Through her work as a tea-lady, she served sweet cups of tea to thousands of workers and fishermen. She also inspired poets who came everyday to work  on the banks of the nile.

Despite her non-existent educational background, disability and  bad luck, she continued to make the best out of each and every opportunity.

Outside her restaurant, a BMW, two land-cruisers and many fancy cars are parked. All her costumers know her by name. They greet her as they walk from their cars to “Awadia Fishes” to eat her signature fish in the comfort of a modern restaurant.

She sits outside in the boiling sun observing her business as if she is a mother watching her baby growing up. Strikingly tall with strong features, she obviously spends a fair amount of time as the observed as well.

People resist oppression and that spirit of resistance won’t die until a courageous people are free again in their own homes, on their own land. Meanwhile, Never underestimate the strength of women in resistance and struggle.
Here is an interview with one of those women involved in resistance; the unconventional girl next door who is known in the twitter and blogosphere as iRevolt.

You can read Farsi translation of the interview here.

Tell us about yourself. What do you do? Where are you from? What’s your origin? What’s your level of education and what approach you have in your life.

My name is Roqayah ; I am a 21 year old Southern Lebanese student living in the United States – I am currently a University Senior, double majoring in Political Science/Pre-Law and Journalism.
I aim to become a human rights activist and International Criminal Attorney; I hope to work in places such as Occupied Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine wherein I will be able to provide what I can in terms of writing about the imperialist occupations, aiding families and/or using my education to coordinate projects and tasks with Human Rights Organizations so that I may help in improving the lives and well being of others.

You are a woman who does activities for Resistance. What are you resisting against? How much women like you are involved in Resistance? What they usually do to help the cause? Is gender a case?

I do not consider myself a rarity in any case – women of all ages, all races and all faiths have resisted against tyranny and oppression far longer than many of us are aware. My sole mission in life is to fight corruption, tyranny and subjugation; so long as one human being is being oppressed it is our duty to aid them in whatever way we can – be it physically, monetarily or mentally.

I believe that more women, especially Muslim women, should be more involved in politics and Resistance movements; Allah subhana w’ ta’alla did not prescribe that we remain housewives or confine ourselves to the roles dictated to us by our culture; no. Allah subhana w’ ta’ala has given us the task of upholding His deen and His objectives – all of us, men and women. I strongly believe that women can raise a family, follow the commandments of Allah subhana w’ ta’ala while committing themselves to aiding their brothers and sisters.

I run an entire website, Political Theatrics on my own – with no help from anyone. Also, I do it anonymously. A majority of those who visit my site assume that I am a male; this is only because their culture has dictated this long and corrupt tale that women cannot have such booming voices – that women are timid creatures. I was not raised this way, Alhamdulillah. I know that I am more than capable of holding my own ground as well as (and if not better than) a man.

What are the issues that Muslim women face in the west particularly in the US, your country?

Muslim women are not as free as they are made out to be in the United States – regardless of what the mainstream media tells you, regardless of what you are being fed by your friends etc. There is a type of oppression present here that is rarely spoken of and that is xenophobia; the fear of what is foreign.
My mother,mashaAllah, wears the hijab and though she has not come under attack from non-Muslims I know many who have been – simply for wearing the attire which brands them ‘Muslim’.

Women,in general, are pushed around by Western culture and abhorrent sexist propaganda – on one side you have the ignorant masses who are afraid and hateful towards the Muslims and on the other side you have those who are trying to ‘liberate us’ by means of perversion; They wish to make us choose between the comforts of the West and Allah subhana w’ ta’ala. The jihad (struggle) for Muslim women in the West is to maintain their dignity while facing the continuous curtain of xenophobia.

How about western activists who work for resistance? What are your struggles if you be against policy of your governments?

I had the great honor of joining the Gaza Freedom March, being head of the Student and Media committee and trying to get into Gaza. I met a plethora of men and women from the United States, Muslim – Non-Muslim – Atheist etc, who joined over 1300 others in order to provide aid to the blockaded people of Gaza.
Men and women from all walks of life left their families, their work just so they may break the siege on Gaza.

I was raised in the States – I lived under a brutal regime which occupied and subjugated people from all across the globe. The United States is an imperialistic regime and so long as I have any breath left in my body I shall resist against it. Allah subhana w’ ta’ala does not give us what we cannot handle; if my brother and sister in Gaza can manage to go without food, water, electricity and shelter then I can face whatever the oppressive US regime can pressure me with.

Since you’re originally Lebanese, Is it true that Lebanese women use Islamic Hijab to show off their political attitudes?

Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) said that “…modesty is the symbol of faith” – in Lebanon the hijab carries a great weight, especially in the South where my family is from.

The hijab is not worn to show political affiliation but in the literal sense there are times, during anniversaries of the war etc, that pins are worn and other adornments in order to show solidarity with certain Resistance groups (i.e. Hezb’Allah, Haraket Amal etc)

What’s role of Hijab in Lebanon’s resistance movement?

Southern Lebanon is home to the Resistance; Our women, as Sayyed Hassan has stated, are our pride and joy. They carry the weight of the Resistance movement on their shoulders by aiding their brothers and providing the light by which the entire movement is able to progress. The hijab is like a badge of honor for many of our women; It should be known that the hijab strengthens our women, it does not degrade them or make them inferior.

How much the resistance affected Arab society? What was its influence on culture and literature? Give me some examples

Being an Arab I take no issue in saying that, in general, my people are apathetic – During Operation Cast Lead, The July War of 2006 in Lebanon (among others) there was a sense of awakening in the Arab world. It was as if someone injected a serum of life into their bloodstream; they reflected upon the victories of the resistance against Apartheid “Israel” and saw their own reflection in the victories.

Books were published about Hezb’Allah, trying to analyze how such a seemingly small group could bring down a heavily funded State. Authors wanted to know how the men of Hezb’Allah could defeat Israel and until now, they are in a state of total shock.

Do you think resistance is just a Muslim cause or a universal movement?

Being a part of a vast array of political and humanitarian organizations I know that resistance is a universal message, carried by men and women from all walks of life. As a human being it is our duty to resist. As Muslims it is our duty and our right.

Are there any organisations in Lebanon especially for women and girls? If there’re any, what services they offer usually? What’s name of the famous ones?

There are an array of groups for women in Lebanon:
Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World, The Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering, Lebanese Women’s Association, The National Council of Lebanese Women, etc.
Most of these groups promote the education and advancement of women in all fields but primarily in the societal aspects of our communities. They do projects and work with young women so they may harness their natural potential.

Where were you at the time of 2006 Lebanon-Israel war? How did you feel? What did you do to help to promote the truth and reality of the Israeli aggression?

In 2006 I was 16 years old, going on 17. I was in High School at that time and I remember every moment of those horrid days as if they occurred yesterday; My family would stay up for days praying and trying to comfort one another. This is where my attitude towards imperialism began to change into something more powerful – I felt helpless and needed to do something, anything. So, I decided to send an email to Al Wa3ed – a branch of Al Manar’s media group which wrote in support of the Resistance and against Israeli occupation. My first article was called “Letter from an American Teenager”, soon after the article gained steady ground on the internet I was asked to write once more and this lead, ultimately, to me opening a website.

Though I could not help my people physically I knew that I could enlighten those around me to the plight of my people; My closest friends who were once ignorant about international politics were now asking me questions and I had all the answers.

Muslim women hold the power to help their people, through their wisdom, their brilliance, their intellectual might and their strength.

What did the Lebanese women do to help their country during and after war?

During the war in Lebanon there were women who refused to leave their homes as Israel bombed relentlessly – they provided moral support for the fighters and protected/sheltered their families – comforting them.

I have yet to meet women like those in the most subjugated places and areas like Lebanon,which has faced trials and tribulations which people will speak of for centuries to come.

War is not new to Lebanon and my own parents have lost loved one to it; the way the women in Lebanon face it is what is most redeeming. They put everything in Allah’s knowledgeable hands and they are stronger because of it.

How much you know about Iran and Iranian women? Have you ever been to Iran? Is there anything about Iran that you’ve been interested in, for example, the culture, language, politics etc?

I have always had an affinity for Iran – my father used to tell me how beautiful it is and I’ve wanted and inshaAllah I shall when I am financially able.
I am proud of the people of Iran, especially those who have disengaged from the West in order to promote unity and dignity within their own communities. What interested me the most about Iran, especially during the wars in Palestine and Lebanon, is how the Iranians sided with their brothers and sisters overseas; I recall a video on Al Manar of the protests and how many there chanted their devotion and support of the resistance.

I want to learn Farsi, as I find it an exquisite language; I am friends with a few Iranian women and their mentality is just as strong and unwavering as mine, thus I wish to be acquainted with more women who are just as passionate and dignified.

Tell us about your thoughts and goals in life! What are your wishes and your concerns?

I want to make a difference in this world before I pass, inshaAllah one that may better the life of another human being – man or woman. I want to live long enough to see the total liberation of Palestine and the vanquishing of the illegal apartheid state of “Israel”. Also, I want to start a family and raise my children to have only one fear – Allah – and raise them with devotion to righteousness.

What’s your final message for Iranian women?

Nothing I may say will change the current state of affairs for the women of Iran. They are as strong as they wish to be; so long as they stop fearing man and place their trust in Allah then all things for them are possible.

In the heart of every women there is a candle, one which has a small flame that grows as their devotion to Allah pushes forward. Do not let the flame go out; safeguard it and make it grow.

*Originally posted on Shahrazad

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH0q56b69ns[/youtube]

Inspired by the indie movement, they started performing secret gigs in Iran, mixing their dance rock with covers of groups like Franz Ferdinand and Elvis to give kids in Iran the experience of going to shows. Their music has since evolved into a self described ‘post punk dark garage hi-fi dance pop’ based in New York.

(from right to left) Kodi, Kami, Raam, Jam

MEY: When did you first start playing live shows?

Back in 2000 as a three piece. We didn’t take it too seriously at first, just sort of being drunk and crazy and then we realized we could actually start pursuing this as a career.  So I dropped out of university where I was studying ‘international relations’. You’re not going to get anywhere with that. So I thought, I’ll change the world, I’ll become a rockstar.

MEY: What has been in your opinion, your biggest accomplishment since you started making music?

We played the Pangaea festival and it was broadcast to 500 million people around the planet and got to perform with all these really cool people.  Our parents back home in Iran were watching on satellite tv, they never got to see us live so that was really cool and relevant. The whole idea was to create a global campfire so it felt appropriate for us to be a part of that because we had this idea that rock and roll has no boundaries.

MEY: Do you ever get tired of talking about Iranian politics when asked about your music?

Well we began like a more exotic animal in a cage, but we kind of sucked ass when we first came here. We just arrived at the right time. We just rehearsed and rehearsed and now people come to the shows for the music.

MEY: Your new album comes out in April, how soon will you do another tour?

Hopefully as soon as the bandmates get back from Canada and we can plan a national tour and even a European tour. As soon as we get the whole visa situation worked out. Everything on this sort of level for us is such an honour and we paved the way and we feel responsible for all the other musicians back home.

What’s next?

I started a management/promotional company called Neverheard,Inc. The Yellow Dogs were at SXSW and have had such good reviews and really good success. That’s why I wanted to come here and establish myself and then help others, give others the opportunity that I had.

MEY: In your music video for ‘Fairy Tales’ you’re all in these fantastic suits, which is sort of how I picture you guys all look strolling around New York. How far off is this mental image?

Actually we pretty much do dress up like this all the time in New York. Kodi is the most stylish, but I guess its normal for all of us.

MEY: Mideast Youth is about giving middle eastern youth a voice in places that are restrictive to freedom of speech. What message do you have not just to the musicians you have influenced but your fans as well?

My father has always said that you a re a citizen of this earth first and then whatever random boundary you’re in. It doesn’t really matter where you guys are but the struggle can be good in itself and keep working for what you believe in and the sky is the limit.

Hypernova’s debut full length album ‘Through the Chaos’ comes out April 6th (that’s tomorrow!) on Narnack Records.

Check it out:

www.myspace.com/hypernova
www.hypernova.com/
www.narnackrecords.com/

First, can you give us a brief introduction about yourself?
I studied art and visual communications but wasn’t satisfied, I felt I needed expression with my senses a little bit more. Then through my yoga practice I was able to accept and be more aware of my love for herbs, and gave them my attention, even though they seemed like a distraction to my family and friends. I was attracted to plants and what they offer, fragrance, flavor and therapy.

What is Green Bar?
Green Bar is my plant essence bar where I make my natural perfumes. I believed in oils for a very long time, but thought it ridiculous… and forgot about it because I was too lazy to look for proof. Then through my personal studies on Ayurveda which is the Indian health/medical compliment to yoga, I realized that yes oils are used for healing and my investigation started from there.

Green Bar oils

What made you think about creating this line of products?
It was because of my passion to upgrade life in the simplest form with the most authentic and pleasant ingredients.

Why did you decide to use regional ingredients?
We have very beautiful exotic ingredients that no one is celebrating. Just a little creativity and improvisation can go a long way. They are a form of my expression to celebrate the island.

What has been the reaction of people to this initiative, particularly in Bahrain?
Very positive. People have been very supportive, and also very curious about the oils.

Do you plan on expanding beyond Bahrain? Will this product be available region-wide? And where do you currently ship to?
It is available in retail stores in Bahrain, and available through the Internet worldwide.

What makes Green Bar products different than other herbal oils and moisturizers?
What makes it different is that I don’t approach it to treat you. I think everyone is just fine, all they need is a little lightheartedness, so even though it’s like a fragrant pharmacy with a lot of healing potential, I like to approach it for the beauty of each fragrance.

Do you feel that Bahrain has a friendly business environment for young entrepreneurs?
Yes it does. But one cant slack off on the follow-up. Everyone I have found is pretty happy to help. However, being an island follow up is very essential.

Finally, do you have anything else you wish to add?
Fixation leads to the best exploration. Follow your curiosities; the reason why a cat has 7 lives is because she gets many chances for having such a virtue… that’s what I believe at least. Everyone else just has one life.

This is one of the most ignored topics in the region despite it being by far one of the most important. Millions of people are trapped in what many call a form of “modern slavery.” Who is doing anything about it, and what can be done? Find our by listening to this podcast!

Of interest may also be this previous podcast on the tragedy of Gulf’s migrant workers.