Join the Arab British Centre and Creative Memory of the Syrian Revolution for the launch of Detainees & Disappeared, a book which traces the memories of the Syrian revolution through stories and testimonies told through art and culture.

Examining themes of detention and enforced disappearances from 2011 until the end of 2020, Detainees & Disappeared is a stunning attestation to the role of art in revolution. The book retells the stories of citizens who engaged in political dissent through the creative works they left behind and documents the artists and intellectuals who used artistic expression to oppose authoritarianism.

We’ll be engaging in a panel discussion with some of Syria’s leading voices in advocacy, journalism and storytelling on forced disappearances during the Syrian revolution: Sana Yazigi, Waad Al Kataeb and Kholoud Helmi.

Sana Yazigi is the founder and editor in chief of Creative Memory of the Syrian Revolution, a digital living archive of all types of creative expressions related to the revolution and war in Syria since 2011, and of The Cultural Diary, Syria’s first monthly cultural agenda that covered the cultural and artistic activates in Damascus and other cities of Syria. Sana is also the founder and manager of the initiative ALWAN providing therapy for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Waad Al Kataeb is a journalist, activist and one of the most recognised documentary filmmakers to emerge from Syria. Waad gained international acclaim with For Sama, her intimate and powerful film about love, motherhood and survival during the destruction of Aleppo, which won numerous international awards, including a BAFTA and the top documentary prize at Cannes. Waad is the co-founder of Action for Sama. She is a leading voice in speaking about Syria and the power of storytelling to preserve memory, seek justice, and inspire change.

Kholoud Helmi, “the bravest woman in the world” according to Marie Claire, is a gender and media expert, human rights advocate, and Syrian journalist. She is the co-founder and managing editor of Enab Baladi, an independent Syrian newspaper established in 2011 to challenge authoritarian narratives and amplify the voices of Syrian communities. Kholoud is a recipient of the Anna Politkovskaya Award for her journalism and the Courage Under Fire Award from the International Documentary Association for her contribution to Cries from Syria.

The discussion will be chaired by Malu Halasa, a writer and editor in London. Her co-edited anthologies include Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline, The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie and Sumud: A New Palestinian Reader.

Registration is £5 and includes refreshments. Book via Eventbrite. 

Please note, the Arab British Centre is not a fully accessible building. Please reach out to us to discuss your access requirements.

More about Detainees and Disappeared – Art Documents and Archives Speak

This book examines the themes of detention and enforced disappearance from 2011 until the end of 2020, with a particular focus on the fields of art and culture, approaching these themes on two interconnected levels.

The first level directly documents artists and intellectuals who were detained, abducted, or killed for opposing the regime and all forms of authoritarianism through their art, actions, or ideas; a reality that was especially widespread in the early years following the outbreak of the revolution.

The second level explores, through a wide range of creative works, the stories of citizens who were detained or forcibly disappeared because of their engagement in public life and oppositional political activity.

Accordingly, this book does not claim to cover all detainees and disappeared persons, nor does it rank or compare their experiences. It focuses solely on individuals for whom creative or artistic works exist within our archive.

The book includes 10 chapters and more than 350 creative works.