Stories of Survival Recording: Stories of Survival: Surviving the Post-9/11 Human Rights Crisis

Join us for the third event in a 4-part series by the Center for Constitutional Rights and Haymarket Books marking the 20th anniversary of 9/11. In “Stories of Survival: Surviving the post-9/11 human rights crisis and reclaiming rights for all,” we are honored to hear from survivors of the U.S. government’s so-called “War on Terror,” who have resisted the U.S.’ campaign of human rights abuses, from endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the global export of the nebulous and discriminatory “terrorism framework”, and the proliferation of domestic policies of surveillance and detention that reinforced existing systems of oppression. From Kabul and Mombasa to Omaha--panelists will share the impact of the harms and together demand accountability and imagine a world repaired. Panelists: Marie Ramtu holds a master’s degree in Peace Studies and International Relations from Hekima University College. She’s a lobbyist with grassroots, regional, and international niches. Her experience in humanitarian, the human rights and social justice sectors spans at least 14 years. Marie has operated to safeguard the rights of the marginalized refugees and asylum seekers. She has also had a specific focus in influencing a shift in attitude, policies, and practices in the specific protection on the rights of sexual and gender minorities. Before joining Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) as the Executive Director, Marie worked with regional and international non-governmental organizations that include the Coalition for the Independence of the African Commission (CIAC), the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), and Church World Service. Born in Kabul, Afghanistan and raised in rural Washington state, Gazelle Samizay’s work often reflects the complexities and contradictions of culture, nationality and gender through the lens of her bicultural identity. Her work in photography, video and mixed media has been exhibited across the US and internationally, including at Whitechapel Gallery, London; Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery; the California Museum of Photography, Riverside; the de Young Museum, San Francisco; and the Slamdance Film Festival, Park City, UT. In addition to her studio practice, her writing has been published in One Story, Thirty Stories: An Anthology of Contemporary Afghan American Literature and she is a founding member of the Afghan American Artists and Writers Association. Samizay has received numerous awards and residencies, including from the Princess Grace Foundation, NY; Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles; the Arizona Community Foundation, Phoenix; Level Ground, Los Angeles, the Torrance Art Museum, and Side Street Projects, Los Angeles. She received her MFA in photography at the University of Arizona and currently lives in San Francisco. www.gazellesamizay.com. @gsamizay. Naveed Shinwari is a plaintiff in Tanvir v. Tanzin, a case brought in 2013 on behalf of American Muslims who were placed or kept on the No-Fly List by the FBI for refusing to spy on their Muslim communities. He was repeatedly questioned and harassed by the FBI as they attempted to recruit him to spy on others. As retaliation for his refusal to do so, Naveed was placed on the No-Fly List and unable to travel to Afghanistan to visit his wife and daughters for two years. His fight to hold government officials accountable for their abuse of power continues. Moderator: Samah Mcgona Sisay is a Bertha Justice Fellow at the Center for Constitutional Rights, where she specializes in international human rights and challenging inhumane immigration policies and abusive police practices. Prior to coming to the Center for Constitutional Rights, Samah worked as an Equal Justice Works Fellow at African Services Committee. Watch the live event recording: https://youtu.be/1bClT5GmLJk Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks