A prominent Yezidi leader from Shingal, recently made a serious mistake when publicly stating something to the effect that the Yezidi community would never live in safety as long as Mohammedans existed. This kicked off a violent wave of hate speech, particularly but somehow, not surprisingly, from Mullahs and Imams in the Duhok region which had warmly and graciously welcomed the Yezidi refugees in 2014 as they fled from the invasion of I$I$ in Shingal.
Over the last few years we have silently observed a definite process of Islamisation in what appears to be a very laid back, chilled city. Radicalism has been on the rise from its well camouflaged abode. This error of expression, led to an open declaration of war and threats of another genocide.
In 2014 Duhokis were amongst the first to open homes, schools and mosques, to give food, bedding and whatever aid was needed for as long as was needed. It was only a few months back when Musa and I were scouring the city for something, that the vendor when hearing that we were purchasing for Yezidis who had been in captivity, told us that he had been in the middle of building a house when they arrived in Duhok, he immediately gave several families this house ( without rent ) where they continue to live until the present, and then gave us a significant discount.
So to hear such hate speech pour out from the city, threatening to kill everyone in the camps caused literally a tsunami of terror. Not panic, not anxiety, plain in your face terror. Quite a few in Shariya camp did an immediate exodus, saying that they were fleeing for their life. Some took a long weekend in Shingal then returned. Some did not return, being convinced that this was the beginning of the end.
The Governor of Duhok intervened, a stream of notables and dignitaries arrived from Erbil, guarantees of safety were made and the storm passed. This time, it passed. The hatred has been exposed. For now it remains contained.
We had been planning to hold a joint event, bringing together the Syrian Kurdish Muslim students from the Hope Academy of Art in Waar City, together with our Yezidi students, some of whom had met in past joint events. When this incident happened we pulled it together faster than we had planned. It was time to demonstrate coexistence, not to hold a seminar about it, but to live it.
Our heart was to bring our two communities together, to show both groups that they are the same, there is nothing to fear. Our two art directors Salam and Sherzad each brought one of their art groups together, Natik, our music director with his team, provided well known Kurdish music. The students were given a subject, Identity and Self Expression.
Salam
Sherzad
Today we present a few of their paintings, unfolding glimpses into memory, identity and their ongoing journey. It's a glimpse into their soul.
"Nice Girl"
“My name is Layla, I was born in Kobani, Syria in 2010. Two years ago I was a student in the Rainbow Zone, during which time we regularly made joint activities with our Yezidi friends in Shariya Camp, and great friendships were formed.
It was a huge privilege to reconnect with both staff and old friends in an art activity that we held together in the Academy center above Horses for Hope. Such an activity was important at this time due to an increase of hate speech between ethnic groups, and increased fear of one another. We chose to work together as a statement of peace and unity. I hope that we can continue to do such activities together.
We created paintings about ourselves. Similar to our Yezidi friends, we have fought for our lives, run for our lives losing all. So “to be” is important, every day is a gift, we are grateful for our lives and to be given a future. Painting ourselves is not vanity but is an expression of our journey, each one of us has a different story to tell, each one has a memory to share.
My painting expresses my personality. A nice girl who loves nature and animals. I chose a palette of soft colors, with gentle butterflies showing my appreciation for the beauty of change and growth, both of which are a central part of my journey and development. The green background symbolizes vitality and the smile on my face represents my infinite belief in and love for life, a belief that will never be taken from me.”
“Memory is my story, the past that made me who I am, of whose legacy I am the guardian for the sake of generations yet to come. Without memory there is no identity, and without identity we are mere dust on the surface of infinity.”
Rabbi. J. Sacks. Morality
"Shayma"
Hello, I am Shayma. I was born and raised in Qamshili, Syria. We did not have a good quality of life, we survived, all I remember is survival. We lacked the basic necessities of food, water, and electricity. We were surrounded by brutal conflicts, we experienced continual fear by day and terror by night. The day came when we were forced to leave all behind us and flee from our Motherland to the Kurdish Region of Iraq.
Our difficulties were many: hunger, thirst, exhaustion, heat stroke and the extreme fear of getting caught and killed. Finally we arrived in Waar City, and in some measure those days are behind us and I can now look to the future. Memories are always with me, and they are somewhat reflected in my self portrait.
My painting is joyful. The paintbrush is the most important element, indicating my desire to be a famous artist. I painted a smile on my portrait face, expressing happiness and hope for the future.
I used a variety of color tones to complete the painting creating a unique composition of balance. Green and blue are my favorite colors, colors which I repeatedly use as they bring me peace, calm and comfort. Whenever I was scared in Syria and when running to safety, I would do my utmost to look at the sky and to breathe. I use these colors to help erase all the awful experiences and haunting memories that I have from Syria and to focus on the life ahead of me.”
“God does not want us to understand the suffering of the innocent but to fight for a world in which the innocent no longer suffer.”
Rabbi J. Sacks. The Book of Redemption
"Beauty"
“My name is Ranya, I was born in Qamshili in 2010. My painting is entitled “Beauty”, it is a self portrait. The flower symbolizes life, the blue background represents the sky which brings me great peace. When struggling with painful memories I often turn my gaze to the sky in order to quieten my thoughts.
It was a joy to paint in the beautiful room above the stables, and I deeply enjoyed connecting with my Yezidi friends. I suddenly realized that we had not met for a long time and how much I missed them. Our communities do not connect so it is only in such events that we can get together. Although we are occupied with our paintings, we chat and talk about our culture, fashion, and school. We may have differences but we are so very similar.
As I painted I reflected on the struggles we had in Syria. How I wish I could understand why we were hated, why we had to flee our home to stay alive. How I wish to forget that dark period of time. How I wish that I could forget the horrifying bombings, the devastation, the destruction. How I wish I could delete the pictures of the dying, the dead, the injured. How I wish the recollection of the chaos and the confusion would just fly away. It was all too much for a child to handle. The flying flower petals represent my desire for those painful memories to vanish, to simply fly away and be no more. The eye symbolizes my wish for fresh vision, to see joy and laughter on the horizon and to distance myself from my painful past and its nightmares.
Painting is a source of life and comfort for me. I love my drawings and the tools that I use to create art. When I purchase new pencils or paints, I breathe a deep sigh of relief, as if I was connecting with old friends again.
Thank you Springs of Hope, your help always brings me a great sense of comfort and peace."
“Let justice roll down like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream.”
Amos 5: 24
"Justice"
We are Hanadi and Shahad, from Syria, now living in Var City. We painted this together. Allow me, Hanadi, to begin by explaining the painting. When we look at the colors of the entire painting, we can see that they are calm and comfortable colors. It would be more correct to say that they are the colors of nature, specifically the season of spring, our favorite season, the season of new birth and life.
The girl’s hair is blowing in the breeze, revealing her freedom and self confidence. The closed eyes represent a dreamy personality, both Shahad and I pursue our dreams, and strive to reach them. We both close our eyes in order to dream in quietness. Her smile indicates hope and inner peace, a constant hope in life that not everything is impossible, the possible is within her reach.
She will not give up if knocked down, she envisages the future, and will always try to make a better life.
She has a clear blue sky and tranquil sea for her garments. The ship sailing indicates just that, clear sailing is ahead for her. The clear sky represents the clarity and serenity that I deal with people and situations. The sea moves with calmness, which is how I face my difficulties, with a calm spirit and not from a place of anxiety. I pursue my dreams with that same quiet spirit and with that smile of knowing that I will succeed.
If we look closely at the ship, it gives the appearance of balanced scales, the scales of justice. The ship represents my love for justice and equality. I firmly believe that every human being has equal rights. I hate injustice and God willing, I will strive as hard as possible to achieve justice.
My passion for justice began because of becoming a refugee. We have reached safety, but still do not have some of the most basic human rights. There are many books about human rights, there are laws concerning human rights, but nothing is applied. I see injustice against those who can not defend themselves, against those who have no voice and this really upsets me, it makes me angry. My dream is of course to become either a doctor or a lawyer. If I will become a doctor I will do my best to treat everyone in a fair manner and to make them smile again. If a lawyer, then I will be the back of all who are oppressed and defend their rights with all my might.
Here I will stop as I have explained the painting but before I go, I must say that it was very good to work together with my Yezidi friends from a place of coexistence and the purest of feelings. There is no difference between us even if we share different religions, cultures and languages, we are the same before God. One of the first building blocks of society must be respect, cooperation, justice and equality.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Leviticus 19.18
"Nada"
"My name is Nada, I live in Shariya Camp but was born and raised in Seba I am 19
I have painted myself. Sometimes I smile, but no one understands it. My smile is hidden, mysterious like my personality. I have multiple personalities. I want to be different from everyone else, and I don’t want my personalities to be discovered. I don't want to be understood easily. I embrace the mysterious. I am strong, brave, never nervous or anxious, full of confidence. These represent my characters. I need all of these characters in order to be successful.”
And yes, dear reader, I have recommended that she meet with our psychologist. This is one of the reasons for majoring in art, it is one of our most reliable barometers. It is exactly such paintings, and the pride in such a work that gauges for the needs of a student such as Nada, whom we have known for years and only now has revealed the hidden side of herself.
We do not approach her painting with any sense of judgement, fear or shock but with a sigh of relief that what was hidden is now revealed and with the prayer she will see her need and desire help. It is a cry for help after ten years of life as a displaced person in a tent inside a camp.
There is a love that quietly helps the one who is suffering to pursue healing and freedom. This is the love that she will receive from us, along with a safe place where she can release this heavy yoke.
When our kids take selfies or make self portraits, we give them space and respect as we realize that this is part of their narrative, this is part of them building restorative memories. Each depiction is an act of liberty, restoration and freedom that is found in safety and security. Their memories can not be erased, no attempt should be made to erase for memory is their story, both individual and collective. Memory and identity can not be separated. I am sure if we were to repeat this in a year’s time, their self expression will look different yet again with more time and wisdom to reconcile memory and identity.
We often hear our kids say “I want to delete these memories" or " I just want to forget and move on”. Whilst understandable that does not make for a healthy future.
We are not here to help with deletion or forgetting. We are here to help with storage in their personal memory bank in such a way that they will be used to strengthen their identity and therefore future without damaging them. We are here to help with the filing and processing of memory. We are here to help open the door for them to find their own restorative memories which will help shape them in such a way as to propel them forward as strong individuals, not fragmented or broken living in the past.
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