Statement of support from professionals in cultural, artistic & academic fields in the EU, US & Canada for Palestinian rights amidst the ongoing massacre of Palestinians in Gaza

Statement: Writer Noor Naga, singer Yasmine Hamdan & artists Hamed Sino & Ali Cherri are amongst over 350 signatories expressing unconditional support for Palestinian rights in the face of the ongoing massacre endured by Palestinians in Gaza.

Perspectives

15 min read

Mona Seif

03 Nov, 2023

The death toll from Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip reaches 9,227 killed, including over 3,826 children and 32,500 people wounded. [GETTY]

We are Arab or Arabic-speaking professionals in the cultural, artistic, and academic fields in the European Union, the United States, and Canada, who hold dual nationalities or are residents of these countries. We unequivocally express our unconditional support for Palestinian rights in the face of the ongoing massacre endured by Palestinians in Gaza.

In some of these countries, the prevailing climate has reached the degree of silencing and suppressing Arab voices demonstrating solidarity with Palestinians in both the media and in public spaces. It is moving towards prohibiting the raising of the Palestinian flag and wearing keffiyehs, restricting the freedom to express support for Palestinians, and limiting genuine political discourse on the subject of resistance to occupation. This suppression has exacerbated a discourse of hate and racism directed towards individuals of Arab descent in these countries. Regrettably, we are witnessing distressing events targeting Arab residents and attempting to limit their professional opportunities.

''Remaining silent regarding the war crimes committed by the Israeli army is a seal of approval justifying the colossal massacre to which Palestinians are subjected to today.''

In recent history, the governments of some of these countries have not only supported authoritarian regimes in Arab countries, or invaded others, or bolstered military, sectarian, and nepotistic corrupt regimes that impoverish and deprive their citizens of freedom. These Western countries have also turned a blind eye to the Palestinian tragedy and entirely disregarded the rights of Palestinians. Remaining silent regarding the war crimes committed by the Israeli army is a seal of approval justifying the colossal massacre to which Palestinians are subjected to today.

Today, we stand up for our people at home and abroad, and we loudly declare that we will not allow the silencing of Palestinians, Arabs and pro-Palestinians. Therefore, we utilise our positions and privileges to defend our people, and we will continue to do so. We call on the free people of the world everywhere to stand with us against this attack that threatens to dismantle the very foundations of freedoms and values, transforming them into overt systems of tyranny.

Justice for Palestinians, and for the oppressed of the world, now and forever.

A. Naji Bakhti / Author / UK
Abdalrahman Alqalaq / Poet & Artist / Germany
Abdelrahman Dnewar / Filmmaker / Germany
Abdelrahman Hussein / Visual Artist / Switzerland
Abdul-Wahab Kayyali / Musician / Canada
Addie Leak / Literary Translator / USA
Adham Zidan / Composer, Performer & Sound Engineer / Switzerland
Ahmad Makia / Writer / UAE / Canada
Ahmed Abofoul / International Lawyer & Legal Researcher / Netherlands
Ahmed Awny / Writer / Germany
Ahmed Ayed / Artist / Belgium
Ahmed Elghazoly / Musician / Germany
Ahmed El Lozy / Filmmaker / Egypt
Ahmed Farouk / Author & Translator / Germany
Ahmed Morsi / Architect & Curator / Italy
Ahmed Naji / Writer / USA
Aïda Camprubí / Journalist / Spain
Alaa Elkamhawi / Photojournalist / Germany
Alexandra Allaeys / Coordinator & Mental Health Coach / Belgium
Alexandra Tatar / Artist & Researcher / Austria
Alhasan Yousef / Filmmaker / Belgium
Alia Ayman / Film Programmer & Academic / USA
Ali Cherri / Artist / France
Ali Nasser / Actor / USA
Almourad Aldeeb / Filmmaker / Germany
Alsarah Abunama-Elgadi / Musician / USA
Amal Abbass / Teacher / USA
Amanda Abi Khalil / Curator / Lebanon / France / Brazil
Amira Chebli / Artist / France
Ammar Alhoushi / Academic / Netherlands
Amro Fatayer / Academic Writer / Portugal
Andres Burbano / Artist & Academic / France
Areej Kaoud / Artist & Writer / UK
Armin Firouzabadi / Musician / UK
Arno Ferrera / Artist / Belgium
Aya Adra / Researcher / Spain
Aya El Dika / Interpreter & Musician / France
Ayham Dalal / Academic / Germany
Ayman Hassan / Artist / Netherlands
Aziz Zoromba / Filmmaker / Canada
Basma al-Sharif / Artist / Germany
Basma Elmahdy / Journalist & Academic / Germany
Basma Jabr / Singer / Vienna
Bayan Abubakr / PhD Candidate in History at Yale University / USA
Bereen Darwish / Artist / Sweden
Bilal Athimni / Filmmaker / Germany
Billy Ka / Academic, Poet / Netherlands
Bint7alal / Artist / UK
Bissane Alcharif / Artist / France
Caline Nasrallah / Translator, Editor & Writer / Canada
Carmel Alabbasi / Artist / Germany / Norway
Chada Halawani / Dancer & Visual Artist / Germany
Charlie Prince / Artist / Canada
Cherine Karam / Filmmaker / USA
Christel Salem / Artist / Lebanon / Germany
Christopher Garrett / Artist / USA
Cirien Saadeh / Teacher, Community Organiser & Journalist / USA
Dalal Mitwally / Artist / Netherlands
Dalia Khamissy / Photographer / Lebanon
Dalia Naous / Actress & Dancer / France
Dana Alsayegh / Architect, Designer & Artist / Belgium
Dana Hamieh / University Student / Netherlands
Dana Salama / Architect / Canada/ Egypt
Danielle Dirr / Designer / USA
Danya Hammoud / Artist / France
Dany Khalife / Artist & Designer / USA
Deema Amr - DJ Dumtak / Filmmaker and DJ / Germany
Deena Abdelwahed / Dj & Composer / France
Dellair Youssef / Writer / Germany
Devorah Livadna / Artist & Writer / Germany
Diana Abbani / Academic / Germany
Dima Albitar Kalaji / Writer / Germany
Dima Charif/ Journalist / UK
Dina Al-Kassim / Academic / Canada
Dina El-Aziz / Costume Designer / US
Dina El Husseiny / Lawyer / US
Dina Mimi / Artist / Netherlands
Dina Mohamed / Artist / Netherlands
Doaa Kaddah / PHD Student / Berlin /Germany
Ebrahim Bahaa-Eldin / Photographer & Anthropologist / Egypt
Eman Hussein / Dancer / Zurich
Emma Harake / Artist / Canada
Emné Nasereddine / Poet / France
Engy Mohsen / Artist & Curator / Switzerland
Ethar Ali / Medical student / Netherlands
Eve Bonneau / Artist / Belgium
Eyad Houssami / Writer / Germany
Fadi A. Bardawil / Academic / USA
Fadi Abdelnour / Publisher and Curator / Germany
Fahd Al Riachi / Engineer & Music Producer / France
Fai Ahmed / Artist / USA
Farah Hijazi / Researcher & Artist / Netherlands
Fares El Helou / Actor / France
Farid Nader / Filmmaker & Storyteller / Germany
Faten Toubasi / Community & Visual Artist / Canada
Fayrouz yousfi / Researcher / Belgium
Firas Nassri / Musician / Canada
Firas Shehadeh / Artist / Austria
Forat Elalfy / Multimedia Designer / Germany
Gamaal El Attar / Filmmaker / Belgium
Gehad Quisay / PhD student / Scotland
Ghassan Hage / Academic / Germany
Ghassan Salhab / Filmmaker / Lebanon
Golan Haji / Poet / France
Habiba Hajj Ali / Filmmaker / Belgium
Hafsa Elazzaoui / Cultural Worker / Belgium
Hajar Moutaouakil / Artist & Author / Netherlands
Hakim Abdelnaeem / Artist / France
Hala Abdel Malak / Educator, Researcher & Curator / USA
Hamed Sinno / Artist / USA
Hamza Badran / Artist / Switzerland
Hanan Abunasser / Educator / Sweden
Hana Sleiman / Academic / UK
Haneen Mohamed / Artist & Archivist / USA
Haya Mortada / Anthropologist / USA
Haytham El Wardany / Writer / Germany
Hazem Saleh / Artist / Germany
Heba Habib / Writer / Sweden
Hebatallah Tolba / Researcher / UK
Hebatallah Tolba / Researcher / UK
Hesham Marold / Filmmaker / Germany
Hilal Chouman / Writer / Canada
Hilda Moucharrafieh / Artist / Netherlands
Himmat Zoubi / Academic / Germany
Hoda El Shakry / Academic / USA
Huda Al-Attas / Writer & Academic / Netherlands
Huda Asfour / Artist & Engineer / USA
Ichraf Nasri / Artist / Belgium
Iman Mersal / writer / Canada
Imène Amara / Feminist Activist, Writer & Researcher / France
Ines Mouzoune / Artist & Musician / Switzerland
Ines Sassi / Designer / France
Isis Lecaro / Student / USA
Iskandar Abdalla / Curator & Academic / Germany
Jad Dahshan / Writer / USA
Jad Wadi / Visual Artist / USA
Jamila Ghaddar / Academic & Archivist / Canada
Jannah Emam / Artist & Musician / Germany
Jara Nassar / Writer, Performer & Poet / Germany
Jayce Salloum / Artist / Canada
Jebali synda / Dancer & Videographer / France / Tunisia
Jennifer Derr / Academic / USA
Joseph Daher / Academic / Switzerland
Jude Abu Zaineh / Artist / Canada
Juliette Mourad / Artist / Belgium
Jumana Manna / Artist / Germany
Kaleem Hawa / Writer / USA
Kamal Aljafari / Filmmaker / France
Karim Marold / Filmmaker / Germany
Karim Mrabti / Film Producer / Netherlands
Karim Safieddine / PhD Student / USA
Karim Youssef / Filmmaker / Denmark
Karine Rathle / Artist / Canada
Katharine Halls / Translator / Germany / UK
Kenan Darwich / Artist / Germany
Kenney Elkomous / Musician & Arts Administrator / USA
Kenza Benabderrazik / Academic / Switzerland
Khadija Baker / Artist / Canada
Khitam Idris / Poet / Canada
Kholod Saghir / Art Director / Sweden
Kholood Elsayed / PhD student & Assistant Lecturer / UK
Khyam Allami / Musician/Composer / Germany
Kifaya zalabani / Teacher / USA
Kinda Hassan / Sound Artist & Visual Artist / France
Lamees Audeh / Musician / Canada
Lara Soliman / Academic / Egypt
Leena Ghannam / Academic / USA
Leila Tayeb / Academic / USA
Leil Zahra / Artist & Filmmaker / Germany
Léna Bagutti Khennouf / Dancer & Choreographer / Switzerland
Leyla Dakhli / Academic / Germany
Liliane Daoud / Journalist, Researcher / UK
Linda al Sharif/ Anthropologist & Activist / Netherlands
Liwaa yazji, Writer & Filmmaker/ Germany
Lore Baeten / Academic, Translator / Belgium
Lorène Karam / Academic / Netherlands / France
Louisa Babari / Artist / France
Louna Sbou / Director/ Germany
Lucine Serhan / Artist & Social Worker / Canada
Mahmoud El Haddad / Artist / France
Mahmoud El Safadi / Artist & Curator / Canada
Mahmoud Khaled / Artist / Germany
Mahmoud Omar / Filmmaker / France
Majdal Nateel / Visual Artist / Sweden
Majd Al-Shihabi / Academic / Canada
Majd Mastoura / Actor / France
Manar Moursi / Artist & Academic / USA / Canada
Manar Shabouk / Academic & Writer / Canada
Mandana Mansouri / Artist / Canada
Marcelle Shehwaro / Writer / USA
Mariam Mekiwi / Filmmaker / Germany
Mariam Sobh / Artist / Canada
Marihan / Dancer / Italy
Marion Slitine / Anthropologist & Curator / France
Marwan Kaabour / Artist, Designer & Founder of Takweer / UK
Maxim Mokdad / Architect / Bulgaria
Max Weiss / Academic / USA
Maya Assouad / Editor / Canada
Maya Boty Kadour / Journalist / France
Mayada Ibrahim / Translator / USA
Maysam Taher / Academic / USA
Melissa Chaptini / Public Relations Professional / Canada
Meryem Alaoui / Dance Artist / Canada
Michael(a) Daoud / Artist & Researcher / Germany
Michaelle Browers / Professor / USA
Milad Khawam / Musician & Composer / Germany
Mira Adoumier / Filmmaker / Norway
Miranda Beshara / Children’s Author & Translator / France
Mohamad Al Rashi / Artist / France
Mohamad Chakhashiro / Musician / Belgium
Mohamad El-Hadidi / Filmmaker / Germany
Mohamed Abdelkarim / Artist / Netherlands
Mohamed Amine Ennouri / Musician / France
Mohamed Fouad / Dancer & Choreographer / France
MOHAMED JASIM / Poet translator / Sweden
Mohamed Naeem / Writer / USA
Mohamed Toukabri / Artist, Choreographer & Dancer / Belgium
Mohammad Abou Laban / Writer / Germany
Mohammad Abu Hajar / Academic & Musician / Germany
Mohammad Darious/ Writer & Journalist / France
Mohammad Rabie / Writer / Germany
Mohammad Shawky Hassan / Filmmaker / Germany
Mohammed Abdallah/ Cultural Worker/ Germany
Mohammed Abugeth / Filmmaker / Berlin
Mohannad Azzam / Artist / Egypt
Mona Baker / Academic / UK
Mona Elshimi / Writer / Canada
Mona Merhi / Creative Writer & Academic / USA
Mona Miari / Musician / USA
Mortada Gzar / Writer / USA
Mosab Alnomire / Poet & Journalist / Canada
Mostafa Abdel Aty / Visual Artist / Egypt
Mostafa Fahmy / Producer / UK
Mostafa Lotfy / PhD Student / USA
Muhammad Jabali / Writer & Artist / Germany
Muriam Haleh Davis / Associate Professor of History / USA
Nabeel Khalid / Writer / UK
Nabil Farag / Visual artist & VFX Artist / Germany
Nada Elshabrawy / Poet, Content Creator & Phd Student / USA
Nadah Elshazly / Musician / Canada
Nada Moumtaz / Academic / Canada
Nada Moumtaz / Academic / Canada
Nadia Agamawy / Researcher / Canada
Nadia Daou / Musician / Switzerland
Nadia Wassef / Author & bookseller / UK
Nadim Bahsoun / Artist / France
Nadine Kassem / Gym Owner / Canada
Nadine Naffah / Artist & Social Worker / Belgium
Nadine Naous / Filmmaker / France
Naila Al-Atrash / Artist Academic / USA
Nariman Youssef / Translator / UK
Natalie Stamatopoulos / Writer / USA
Nayera Abdelrahman / Academic / Germany
Nayla Naoufal / Curator, Writer & Cultural Worker / Canada
Nayrouz Abu Hatoum / Academic / Canada
Nesreen Nabil Hussein / Academic / UK
Nicolas Rahal / Visual artist & Designer / Germany
Nisrine Mbarki / Writer / Netherlands
Noelle BuAbud / Artist / Germany
Noor Abuarafeh / Artist / Netherlands
Noora Dadu / Actor & Writer / Finland
Noor Naga / Writer & Academic / Canada / Egypt
Noor Taher / Teacher / Canada
Nour Abu Husan / Philosophy PhD / Canada
Nourane Radwane / Contemporary Dancer / Egypt
Nour Bakr / Producer / Belgium
Nour Hifaoui / Illustrator / France
Nuri / Musician / France
Nyla Matuk / Writer / Canada
Ola Galal / Academic / USA
Omar Adel / Artist / Germany
Omar Berrada / Writer / USA
Omar Elhamy / Filmmaker / Canada
Omar Jabary Salamanca / Researcher & Cultural Worker / Belgium
Omnia El Shakry / Academic / USA
Omnia Khalil / Academic / USA
Oraib Toukan / Artist & educator / Germany
Perwana Nazif / Writer & Academic / USA
Philip Rizk / Filmmaker / Germany
Poline Harbali / Artist / Canada
Qasem Albasri / Journalist / France
Rabab Abdulhadi / Academic & Writer / USA
Rabii Brahim / Actor & Curator / Italy
Radouan Mriziga / Choreographer / Belgium
Radwa El Barouni / Academic / USA
Radwan Ghazi Moumneh / Artist / Canada
Raffi Feghali / Theater Maker / Netherlands / Lebanon
Ramez melhem / Visual Artist / Germany
Ramy Al-Asheq / Poet & Journalist / Germany
Rana Hamadeh / Artist / Netherlands
Rana Issa / Writer / Norway
Rana Yazaji / Researcher & Cultural Manager / Germany
Rand Abou Fakher / Filmmaker / Belgium
Randa Mirza / Artist / France
Rand Hammoud / Illustrator & Artist / Belgium
Rania Younis / Artist / Canada
Ranwa Alamsi / Writer / Netherlands
Rasha Abbas / Writer / Germany
Rasha arous / Academic / Canada
Rasha Hilwi / Writer & Journalist / Netherlands
Rasha salah / Curator / Lebanon
Rasha Salti / Curator / Germany
Rashid Novaire / Writer / Netherlands
Rawad Z. Wehbe / Academic / USA
Reeham Mourad / Academic / USA
Rima Sghaier / Feminist activist / Italy
Rim El Cheikh / AI researcher / France
Rita Habib / Artist / Martinique
Rowaa Ibrahim / Spatial Practices / Germany
Rozeen Bisharat / Filmmaker / Germany
Saber Zammouri / Filmmaker / France
Sabrina Jebari / Filmmaker / France
Salah Hamed / Musician / Germany
Salam Jabbour / Researcher / Ireland
Saleem Salameh / Writer & Producer / Netherlands
Salim Jawaied / Artist / Germany
Salma Amer / Academic & Poet / Canada
Salma ataya / Artist / Ireland
Salma Labayed / Cultural Manager / Spain
Salman Nawati/ Artist / Sweden
Salma Said / Artist / Germany
Salma Salah / Writer & Translator / USA
Salma Shamel / Academic / USA
Sami Rustom / Artist / Germany
Sanabel Abdelrahman / Academic & Writer / Germany
Sana Tannoury-Karam / Academic / Germany
Sara Abou Ghazal / Writer / Belgium
Sara Alsherif / Academic, PhD Candidate in University of Sussex / UK
Sara Ishaq / Filmmaker / Netherlands
Sara Shahwan / Academic / UK
Sasha Ali / Creative Producer / USA
Selim Dir Melaïzi / Light Designer / Geneva
Selim El Sadek / Filmmaker & Academic / Germany
Selma M. Yonus / Author / Norway
Serenah Sabat / Digital Marketer / Portugal
Shady Rabab / Musician / Canada
Shahrzad Arshadi /Artist / Canada
Sham Abyad / Singer / USA
Sharif Elmusa / Academic & Poet / USA
Shayma Nader / Artist / Belgium
Shorouk El Hariry / Writer & Academic / Germany
Simon Dubois / Academic / France
Sinan Antoon, Writer & Academic / USA
Sinin Nakhle / Artist, Writer, Performer & PhD candidate / Netherlands
Soheir Fouzat / Poet / Canada
Sondos Shabayek / Filmmaker / Germany
Sophia Halim / Social Worker / USA
Souad Abi Samra / Academic / Belgium
Souheila Yildiz / Artist/Researcher / Belgium
Stefan Pente / Artist / Germany
Suneela Mubayi / Translator & Independent Scholar / USA
Synda Jebali / Dancer & Videographer / France / Tunisia
Tamam Habib / Academic / Netherlands
Tania El Khoury / Artist / USA
Tania Feghali / Artist & Filmmaker / Italy
Tarek Bali / Comedian / Germany
Tarek Reda Kamal Abdallah Mohamed / Musician & Artist / Belgium
Tariq M. Suleiman / Researcher & Editor / Germany
Taüs Jafar / Artist & Musician / USA
Teyama Alkamli / Filmmaker / Canada
The Regional Coalition of Women Human Rights Defenders in South West Asia and North Africa (WHRDMENA) / Feminist Coalition / Spain
Tom Abi Samra / Academic / USA
Vida Samiian / Professor and Dean Emerita, CSU Fresno / USA
Wassila Abboud / Journalist / Netherlands
Yamen Hussein / Poet / Germany
Yamna Atlassi / Anti-discrimination Consultant / Belgium
Yara El Murr / Journalist / Canada
Yasmeen Daher / Academic / Germany
Yasmina Jaafri / Editor / France
Yasmina Reggaf / Performance Artist, Dramaturge & Researcher / Belgium
Yasmine Hamdan / Singer & Songwriter / France
Yasmin Elbeih / Writer / Netherlands
Yasser Abdellatif / Writer / Canada
Yassin al-Haj Saleh / Writer/ Germany
Yassin Swehat / Journalist / Germany
Youness atbsnr / Artist / Germany
Youness Khoukhou / Artist / Belgium
Zahra Ali / Academic / USA
Zahra Alzubaidi / Singer / USA
Zahra Kuhail / Social Media Manager / Portugal
Zain Salem / Artist & Dramaturg / Germany
Zaki Mahfoud / Storyteller & Journalist / Canada
Ziad Dallal / Academic / USA
Zina Jab / Architecture / Germany
Ziyad Hawwas / Film editor & Video Artist / Germany

Mona Seif is a British - Egyptian human rights defender known for her participation in the 2011 Egyptian revolution, her use of social media to document human rights abuses and for her work towards ending military trials of civilians. Mona is one of the leading organisers of the #FreeAlaa campaign, dedicated to the case of her brother Alaa Abd el-Fattah, the British-Egyptian writer imprisoned in Egypt for most of the past decade.

This statement has been collectively published by the signatories exclusively with The New Arab despite being under the name of one author.

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