June 9 1992 6:45 p.m. Cairo Farooq Fudo May 26 1993 9 a.m. Alger’s
Farooq Fudo May 26 1993 9 a.m. Alger’s
Farooq Fudo May 26 1993 9 a.m. Alger’s Taha jawad June 2nd 2005 10:30 a.m.
Taha jawad June 2nd 2005 10:30 a.m.
Taha jawad June 2nd 2005 10:30 a.m. Beirut Samir kazeer I could have given
Beirut Samir kazeer I could have given
Beirut Samir kazeer I could have given you dozens of other dates times cities
you dozens of other dates times cities
you dozens of other dates times cities where writers journalists and artists
where writers journalists and artists
where writers journalists and artists were shot dead or killed in a car bomb
were shot dead or killed in a car bomb
were shot dead or killed in a car bomb in our country’s 97’s Tunisia 99th
in our country’s 97’s Tunisia 99th
in our country’s 97’s Tunisia 99th Lebanon 104th Kuwait the best ranked
Lebanon 104th Kuwait the best ranked
Lebanon 104th Kuwait the best ranked Middle Eastern and North African
Middle Eastern and North African
Middle Eastern and North African countries and reported Without Borders
countries and reported Without Borders
countries and reported Without Borders annual press freedom ranking out of 180
annual press freedom ranking out of 180
annual press freedom ranking out of 180 countries free ala Frieda F free basses
countries free ala Frieda F free basses
countries free ala Frieda F free basses hashtags we’ve all probably used to call
hashtags we’ve all probably used to call
hashtags we’ve all probably used to call for the release of Allah Abdel Fattah
for the release of Allah Abdel Fattah
for the release of Allah Abdel Fattah and Egypt relief Badawi in Saudi Arabia
and Egypt relief Badawi in Saudi Arabia
and Egypt relief Badawi in Saudi Arabia basil Herta Beale in Syria I won’t bore
basil Herta Beale in Syria I won’t bore
basil Herta Beale in Syria I won’t bore you with more examples to highlight the
you with more examples to highlight the
you with more examples to highlight the very dark state of freedom of expression
very dark state of freedom of expression
very dark state of freedom of expression in our region our societies for
in our region our societies for
in our region our societies for centuries have lived in fear fear of the
centuries have lived in fear fear of the
centuries have lived in fear fear of the Mahabharat fear of the religious figures
Mahabharat fear of the religious figures
Mahabharat fear of the religious figures fear of the ruler but here of the
fear of the ruler but here of the
fear of the ruler but here of the neighbor fear of the word fear of the
neighbor fear of the word fear of the
neighbor fear of the word fear of the gun in Lebanon we’ve never lived under
gun in Lebanon we’ve never lived under
gun in Lebanon we’ve never lived under dictatorship or autocracy but we’ve had
dictatorship or autocracy but we’ve had
dictatorship or autocracy but we’ve had a political system based on sectarianism
a political system based on sectarianism
a political system based on sectarianism our politicians excelled in a special
our politicians excelled in a special
our politicians excelled in a special form of Commerce sectarian
form of Commerce sectarian
form of Commerce sectarian entrepreneurship they thrived on making
entrepreneurship they thrived on making
entrepreneurship they thrived on making their supporters believe that the other
their supporters believe that the other
their supporters believe that the other is attacking them because of who they
is attacking them because of who they
is attacking them because of who they are because of their identity in return
are because of their identity in return
are because of their identity in return for the perception
for the perception
for the perception of being protected citizens were forced
of being protected citizens were forced
of being protected citizens were forced to concede the right to good governance
to concede the right to good governance
to concede the right to good governance to citizenship to modernity in this
to citizenship to modernity in this
to citizenship to modernity in this climate freedom of ambition was always
climate freedom of ambition was always
climate freedom of ambition was always under siege attacked by warlords
under siege attacked by warlords
under siege attacked by warlords and foreign armies attacked by
and foreign armies attacked by
and foreign armies attacked by corruption and electoral arrangements
corruption and electoral arrangements
corruption and electoral arrangements that’s the dark side of the story but
that’s the dark side of the story but
that’s the dark side of the story but it’s not the full picture resistance
it’s not the full picture resistance
it’s not the full picture resistance exists in 2005 the cedar revolution in
exists in 2005 the cedar revolution in
exists in 2005 the cedar revolution in Lebanon or the Arab uprisings starting
Lebanon or the Arab uprisings starting
Lebanon or the Arab uprisings starting in Tunisia in 2010 led to the emergence
in Tunisia in 2010 led to the emergence
in Tunisia in 2010 led to the emergence of new actors that gave hope to young
of new actors that gave hope to young
of new actors that gave hope to young people that something new something
people that something new something
people that something new something different is possible in Tunisia in
different is possible in Tunisia in
different is possible in Tunisia in cavada is an inspiration for young
cavada is an inspiration for young
cavada is an inspiration for young journalists across the region who dream
journalists across the region who dream
journalists across the region who dream of breaking taboos and it’s a model for
of breaking taboos and it’s a model for
of breaking taboos and it’s a model for new journalistic aesthetics in Egypt
new journalistic aesthetics in Egypt
new journalistic aesthetics in Egypt madam uh sir is probably the last ray of
madam uh sir is probably the last ray of
madam uh sir is probably the last ray of light for Free Press in Jordan Haber is
light for Free Press in Jordan Haber is
light for Free Press in Jordan Haber is the space that has best resisted to
the space that has best resisted to
the space that has best resisted to self-censorship in Lebanon the Sameer
self-censorship in Lebanon the Sameer
self-censorship in Lebanon the Sameer Kosir foundation was established in 2006
Kosir foundation was established in 2006
Kosir foundation was established in 2006 it’s become the largest freedom of
it’s become the largest freedom of
it’s become the largest freedom of expression organization in the Levant
expression organization in the Levant
expression organization in the Levant region I am proud to have joined the
region I am proud to have joined the
region I am proud to have joined the Sami Khedira foundation in September
Sami Khedira foundation in September
Sami Khedira foundation in September 2011 we’ve relentlessly monitored every
2011 we’ve relentlessly monitored every
2011 we’ve relentlessly monitored every violation targeting journalists artists
violation targeting journalists artists
violation targeting journalists artists media professionals in Lebanon Syria
media professionals in Lebanon Syria
media professionals in Lebanon Syria Jordan and Palestine we’ve provided
Jordan and Palestine we’ve provided
Jordan and Palestine we’ve provided legal and financial support to no less
legal and financial support to no less
legal and financial support to no less than 80 journalists and helped more than
than 80 journalists and helped more than
than 80 journalists and helped more than a thousand build better skills to cover
a thousand build better skills to cover
a thousand build better skills to cover the most sensitive topics from security
the most sensitive topics from security
the most sensitive topics from security institutions to religion from LGBT
institutions to religion from LGBT
institutions to religion from LGBT issues to the refugee crisis yet today I
issues to the refugee crisis yet today I
issues to the refugee crisis yet today I am concerned about our future I am
am concerned about our future I am
am concerned about our future I am concerned about the future of the
concerned about the future of the
concerned about the future of the organizations I mentioned and many
organizations I mentioned and many
organizations I mentioned and many others that share our values we while we
others that share our values we while we
others that share our values we while we have faced problems and challenges for
have faced problems and challenges for
have faced problems and challenges for years and these problems have always
years and these problems have always
years and these problems have always existed to new challenge
existed to new challenge
existed to new challenge is our today endangering the very
is our today endangering the very
is our today endangering the very existing at the very existence of the
existing at the very existence of the
existing at the very existence of the only tools for positive change in our
only tools for positive change in our
only tools for positive change in our region first the shift in international
region first the shift in international
region first the shift in international attention from supporting democracy
attention from supporting democracy
attention from supporting democracy human rights freedom of expression to
human rights freedom of expression to
human rights freedom of expression to this quasi obsessive focus on CVE
this quasi obsessive focus on CVE
this quasi obsessive focus on CVE countering violent extremism instead of
countering violent extremism instead of
countering violent extremism instead of addressing the root causes the foreign
addressing the root causes the foreign
addressing the root causes the foreign policy the domestic policy decisions
policy the domestic policy decisions
policy the domestic policy decisions that led to the emergence of radical
that led to the emergence of radical
that led to the emergence of radical groups and extremist ideologies the
groups and extremist ideologies the
groups and extremist ideologies the international community seems stuck in a
international community seems stuck in a
international community seems stuck in a reactive attitude trying to counter what
reactive attitude trying to counter what
reactive attitude trying to counter what – and it’s look-alikes say film or
– and it’s look-alikes say film or
– and it’s look-alikes say film or spread it’s become a bad joke in our
spread it’s become a bad joke in our
spread it’s become a bad joke in our sector if you cannot find funding to
sector if you cannot find funding to
sector if you cannot find funding to build a basketball court on your street
build a basketball court on your street
build a basketball court on your street or you can’t find funding to launch a
or you can’t find funding to launch a
or you can’t find funding to launch a local women’s empowerment program tell
local women’s empowerment program tell
local women’s empowerment program tell an international donor that is part of a
an international donor that is part of a
an international donor that is part of a counter radicalization initiative and
counter radicalization initiative and
counter radicalization initiative and the money will come
the money will come
the money will come while essential programs essential
while essential programs essential
while essential programs essential programs for human rights and freedom of
programs for human rights and freedom of
programs for human rights and freedom of expression and sustainable development
expression and sustainable development
expression and sustainable development were thriving today their very existence
were thriving today their very existence
were thriving today their very existence is in danger because of this shift in
is in danger because of this shift in
is in danger because of this shift in donor priority and our governments have
donor priority and our governments have
donor priority and our governments have understood the situation I have taken
understood the situation I have taken
understood the situation I have taken advantage of the shift to revert back to
advantage of the shift to revert back to
advantage of the shift to revert back to old-style military rule practices Egypt
old-style military rule practices Egypt
old-style military rule practices Egypt is the clearest and saddest example
is the clearest and saddest example
is the clearest and saddest example under the pretext of fighting terrorism
under the pretext of fighting terrorism
under the pretext of fighting terrorism free thinkers are repressed again free
free thinkers are repressed again free
free thinkers are repressed again free thinkers have become a double victim
thinkers have become a double victim
thinkers have become a double victim victims of the radical groups who see
victims of the radical groups who see
victims of the radical groups who see them as their primary targets for either
them as their primary targets for either
them as their primary targets for either for their ideas and also victims of
for their ideas and also victims of
for their ideas and also victims of oppressive regimes who see in them the
oppressive regimes who see in them the
oppressive regimes who see in them the agents of change that need to be
agents of change that need to be
agents of change that need to be neutralized the recent wave of terrorist
neutralized the recent wave of terrorist
neutralized the recent wave of terrorist attacks on the global refugee crisis
attacks on the global refugee crisis
attacks on the global refugee crisis convinced the international community to
convinced the international community to
convinced the international community to make stability great again at the
make stability great again at the
make stability great again at the expense of freedom fighters in our
expense of freedom fighters in our
expense of freedom fighters in our region the second challenge is probably
region the second challenge is probably
region the second challenge is probably more dangerous and we are here in this
more dangerous and we are here in this
more dangerous and we are here in this venue the evidence of this challenge
venue the evidence of this challenge
venue the evidence of this challenge which is the bubble we the people here
which is the bubble we the people here
which is the bubble we the people here live
live
live in you have probably more in common with
in you have probably more in common with
in you have probably more in common with me then with your next-door neighbor at
me then with your next-door neighbor at
me then with your next-door neighbor at home the organizations I mentioned are
home the organizations I mentioned are
home the organizations I mentioned are often more connected to each other than
often more connected to each other than
often more connected to each other than to other organizations in their own
to other organizations in their own
to other organizations in their own countries and civil and social networks
countries and civil and social networks
countries and civil and social networks have done nothing but exacerbate this
have done nothing but exacerbate this
have done nothing but exacerbate this problem they connected us to people who
problem they connected us to people who
problem they connected us to people who think like us act like us talk like us
think like us act like us talk like us
think like us act like us talk like us they gave us the feeling of comfort of
they gave us the feeling of comfort of
they gave us the feeling of comfort of not being alone yet we’ve become
not being alone yet we’ve become
not being alone yet we’ve become disconnected from other segments of our
disconnected from other segments of our
disconnected from other segments of our society who didn’t have the same
society who didn’t have the same
society who didn’t have the same opportunities given the political the
opportunities given the political the
opportunities given the political the economic and the security risks we are
economic and the security risks we are
economic and the security risks we are facing today we cannot afford to remain
facing today we cannot afford to remain
facing today we cannot afford to remain in our bubble and the way out of it the
in our bubble and the way out of it the
in our bubble and the way out of it the way I chose is to recognize that many of
way I chose is to recognize that many of
way I chose is to recognize that many of us engage in civil society in NGOs or
us engage in civil society in NGOs or
us engage in civil society in NGOs or even in journalism because the political
even in journalism because the political
even in journalism because the political game was closed
game was closed
game was closed NGOs writing Civic initiatives were more
NGOs writing Civic initiatives were more
NGOs writing Civic initiatives were more open and seemed at some point as
open and seemed at some point as
open and seemed at some point as alternative ways to influence society
alternative ways to influence society
alternative ways to influence society policies and politics which is what
policies and politics which is what
policies and politics which is what we’ve always wanted to do but today’s
we’ve always wanted to do but today’s
we’ve always wanted to do but today’s problem are in essence political they
problem are in essence political they
problem are in essence political they require a political response we need a
require a political response we need a
require a political response we need a political translation for the values and
political translation for the values and
political translation for the values and ideas we’ve been defending in civil
ideas we’ve been defending in civil
ideas we’ve been defending in civil society we these this political
society we these this political
society we these this political transition means that my call for you
transition means that my call for you
transition means that my call for you today is not for all of us to move out
today is not for all of us to move out
today is not for all of us to move out of civil society into politics but for
of civil society into politics but for
of civil society into politics but for those in civil society who are there
those in civil society who are there
those in civil society who are there just because they refrained from
just because they refrained from
just because they refrained from engaging in politics to break that
engaging in politics to break that
engaging in politics to break that bubble it is a call for the emergence of
bubble it is a call for the emergence of
bubble it is a call for the emergence of vigorous liberal progressive political
vigorous liberal progressive political
vigorous liberal progressive political alternatives that are reconciled with
alternatives that are reconciled with
alternatives that are reconciled with the private sector reconciled with those
the private sector reconciled with those
the private sector reconciled with those who can bring fresh money and innovative
who can bring fresh money and innovative
who can bring fresh money and innovative approaches to the mix but also
approaches to the mix but also
approaches to the mix but also reconciled with their neighbors with our
reconciled with their neighbors with our
reconciled with their neighbors with our neighbours on whose doors we knock with
neighbours on whose doors we knock with
neighbours on whose doors we knock with whom we drink coffee debate exchange and
whom we drink coffee debate exchange and
whom we drink coffee debate exchange and repeat our ideas again but most
repeat our ideas again but most
repeat our ideas again but most importantly to whom we show that we care
importantly to whom we show that we care
importantly to whom we show that we care NGOs and civil society can no
NGOs and civil society can no
NGOs and civil society can no to replace political parties look at the
to replace political parties look at the
to replace political parties look at the political game like a market if the
political game like a market if the
political game like a market if the supply side of policies and ideas ie
supply side of policies and ideas ie
supply side of policies and ideas ie political parties and institutions can’t
political parties and institutions can’t
political parties and institutions can’t meet the demand for services and
meet the demand for services and
meet the demand for services and representation the price of democracy
representation the price of democracy
representation the price of democracy increases and it might well cost blood I
increases and it might well cost blood I
increases and it might well cost blood I am a child of the war I don’t want it
am a child of the war I don’t want it
am a child of the war I don’t want it for my children and staying in my bubble
for my children and staying in my bubble
for my children and staying in my bubble in our bubble won’t protect me and it
in our bubble won’t protect me and it
in our bubble won’t protect me and it won’t protect my children
won’t protect my children
won’t protect my children in 1989 Lebanon was going through the
in 1989 Lebanon was going through the
in 1989 Lebanon was going through the very last yet very violent phase of its
very last yet very violent phase of its
very last yet very violent phase of its civil war we didn’t have electricity for
civil war we didn’t have electricity for
civil war we didn’t have electricity for more than two hours a day and we didn’t
more than two hours a day and we didn’t
more than two hours a day and we didn’t have more than two channels to watch on
have more than two channels to watch on
have more than two channels to watch on TV
TV
TV so we whenever we wanted to watch TV we
so we whenever we wanted to watch TV we
so we whenever we wanted to watch TV we would just watch what’s on there so the
would just watch what’s on there so the
would just watch what’s on there so the first two images I ever remember seeing
first two images I ever remember seeing
first two images I ever remember seeing on TV at the age of six are the reason
on TV at the age of six are the reason
on TV at the age of six are the reason why I am here today why I have dedicated
why I am here today why I have dedicated
why I am here today why I have dedicated my career to defending freedom of
my career to defending freedom of
my career to defending freedom of expression and why I will keep fighting
expression and why I will keep fighting
expression and why I will keep fighting for my freedom of ambition thank you
for my freedom of ambition thank you
for my freedom of ambition thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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