“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants may live.”
Deuteronomy 30: 19
The subject of death is not exactly a favourite topic in western society but in our region, which over the centuries has been one of "life and death" it is part of the warp and weft of life. Death is part of life. You can not have one without the other. Sucicide however is different.
There are two months of the year where we are on high alert for those whose behaviour patterns change, for those who express even with the tiniest clue, suicidal thoughts. Suicide raises its foul head every July and August, the run up to the memorial of the genocide on August 3rd, 2014.
There have been two cases of suicide in Shariya camp during June, both young men, one jilted, one with family problems. One who shot himself, one who hung himself. One other young man from another camp went into the city, climbed 14 floors and threw himself to the ground. Their families, friends and indeed the entire camp communities are both devastated and in shock. The utter despondency of a forgotten people who lack direction, who lack hope. Our heart breaks.
For ten years we have advocated for, pushed for, lived LIFE. We have been blessed that none of our students, those who were held in the captivity of Daesh, have entertained such thoughts or committed such an act. They are the ones who have made a choice for life. Who indeed treasure life. The ones who through suffering learned to appreciate just being alive. Somehow their DNA is different to those who were displaced, not taken into captivity but like them are tent dwellers.
Those who sat in darkness have indeed seen a great light. The Kids from ISIS are today Prisoners of Hope. Death has lost its hold on them.
When news of the recent suicides spread throughout the camp, we halted our programmes in order to cover this subject with everyone of our student groups (apart from the kindergarten ages) to make them aware, to show them signs to observe should, perchance their friends manifest warning signs, and to show them that taking one’s life is not the way out, is not an option.
These are some of the responses that we received to Mr. Noori’s seminars.
Jaklin
“Suicide is a criminal act. It is a crime against God, It is a crime against our body that was created in the shape of God. It is a crime against humanity.
Our society needs to be taught these things, and the stigma removed so that people who are suffering with suicidal thoughts or intentions have a safe place to talk and to look for a solution.
But not to take one’s life. That is a crime and there will be a payment for making that crime.”
Jaklin. Rescued from ISIS.
Saddam
“Suicide is the most selfish act a human being can make. Every problem has its solution. Losing one's family is awful but it is not the end. Living in a tent is not the end. There are always problems in life. Get help. Solve them. Do not be selfish. Make a life.”
Saddam. Rescued from ISIS.
“It is the acceptance of death that has finally allowed me to choose life.”
Elizabeth Lesser
Hamda
“I do think about death, because I have lost all my family. 10 years have passed and I still have no news about some of them. So of course I think about death. It is part of my life but thanks to Springs of Hope Foundation I have learned to choose life.
A few years ago, after my rescue from ISIS, I was without hope for the future, and I did think about ending my life but slowly I have healed by surrounding myself in an atmosphere of love, acceptance and hope. Everything about this place is life and hope.
A new idea was presented to me in this seminar, that by taking our life in our hands, we are pushing our Creator aside. We have become the Judge of our days and our time on this planet, and by doing that it is as if we "kill" God our Creator. We strip him of his rights and his plan for our life.
This was new to me, and it affected me deeply. We all needed this very timely reminder about the value of life, and to choose life sometimes on an hourly basis. Thank you.”
Hamda. Rescued from ISIS. 16 years old.
“In the decisive moment I won the victory over myself. I chose to live. And believe me it takes courage to choose life under these circumstances.”
Henrik Ibsen
Dleen
"Death is part of our life. Only a few weeks ago another mass grave was opened and we all waited to see if we would find family members. It is impossible to escape death, it has been a part of Yezidi society for hundreds of years probably with genocide after genocide. But suicide. No. That is ugly. That can not be.
I have known about suicide, but I did not know why it is is so ugly or the criminal significance of that act. I learned how to recognise signs of possible suicidal intentions. I will share all I learned with my friends and encourage them to choose life. Life is so very important."
Dleen, Rescued from ISIS. 13 years old.
Bashiq, English Teacher
“It was vital to present this seminar on suicide awareness and prevention. It is an important and sensitive topic. It is crucial to openly address mental health and suicide issues without fear, without shame and to offer help and support to those who might be struggling.
Springs of Hope is able to provide a supportive environment where our students have the freedom to ask questions and to confidently share their thoughts and opinions. All of them have encountered cases of suicide the camp is small and news spreads. Most of them also personally know those taken into captivity who there in Syria wanted to kill themselves rather than be raped. Some did.
All of the students were grateful for this seminar, and actively engaged. They said that all that they had learned would be shared with their friends, and suggested regular discussions on the subject to help strengthen their awareness and to make the correct choices for life.”
Wassim
“In my opinion suicide is the worst thing a person can do to himself. Killing yourself does nothing for you, it is not a way out. You have not solved your problems by killing yourself. You have ruined the life of your family for generations to come. You do not have the right to kill yourself. Do not be selfish.”
Wassim. Rescued from ISIS
Yamen
“The seminar was a wake up call at the very right time, before the tenth memorial of the genocide. We all think about death as our families are dead, ISIS killed them. I needed this wake up call, to be reminded about the power and blessing of choosing life, to be reminded that this is a crime against God himself, and to be reminded that we the survivors of ISIS are surrounded with a caring, protective family here in the Hope Centre. We are not alone.”
Yamen. Rescued from ISIS
“ It is up to us to determine whether the years ahead will be for humankind a curse or a blessing. We must always remember that it is given to men and women to choose life and living, not death and destruction.”
Elie Wiesel
Noori, Psychologist
“There are some unhealthy aspects to our culture, particularly in the Shingali society. We are like sheep. When one person does something new, everyone follows him. Overnight a trend is born. It is exactly the same with suicide. One person takes his life, the next week the next one follows him and so it goes on.
The Yezidi community will say that it is a crime against humanity, it is a criminal offence that goes against our religion, against the honor and dignity of everyone belonging to that family and to the community in general, but it is a subject that is avoided, it is not discussed. After so many of our community were slaughtered in 2014, it became a commandment to give birth to children and increase our numbers, not to die and decrease our community.
There is no awareness. There is also a great lack of medical and psychological services which is partially responsible for the increase in our community. This month alone, I received four new cases of patients with suicidal thoughts, all cases of existing depression. We have “walk in" from tent dwellers who are not our students, they come and say straight out that if their boyfriend, girlfriend will leave them then they will kill themselves. In such cases I notify their families, and send them to a doctor and a psychiatrist.
It is also a subject that is covered in shame. Shame and secrecy although news travels fast and everyone appears to know the reasons and the story behind every case. Our survivors are strong and we have given them a safety net which has stood the test of time. However when I presented this subject, which they all were in agreement that they wanted to learn, their faces changed. Some of their faces were in such shock that they became yellow. You ( Lisa ) had told me that this is a crime against God himself and that shocked them. They had not thought of that. I presented them visuals at the same time so that they would be able to look at the visual and not just at me if the subject was too sensitive.
No one shrank back from the subject, the very opposite, they all expressed their gratitude and that they felt empowered and requested to revisit the subject after the summer.
I am grateful that we have such a close relationship with our students, one that is more like a family where there is the trust and respect to be able to discuss such hard issues of our time.”
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