Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights activist Tawakkol Karman has delivered a powerful speech during an event organized by the Tawakkol Karman Foundation in Istanbul, Turkey, entitled “Yemen through a Swedish Lens.”
The event, featuring a photo exhibition, aimed to showcase the cultural beauty of Yemen through the lens of Swedish physician Dr. Björn Wenngren.
Karman began by expressing her gratitude and joy for being part of an event filled with history, art, and emotion. She extended a warm welcome to Dr. Björn Wenngren, whose work was the centerpiece of the occasion. “Dr. Björn arrived in Yemen at a time when the country lacked everything but was shaking off the dust of stagnation and struggling to catch up with civilization's progress,” Karman remarked, acknowledging the challenges faced by Wenngren and other friends of Yemen who ventured there despite less-than-ideal conditions.
Reflecting on Yemen's current plight, Karman lamented that the event could not be held in Yemen due to the ongoing war and complex political situation. She underscored the importance of preserving memories through photography, stating, “The worst thing that can happen to a country is to become devoid of memory. This leaves it vulnerable to exploitation.” Karman highlighted Yemen's rich cultural and historical heritage, noting that the significance of photography remains underappreciated in the country.
Despite the rise of social media and technological advancements, Karman pointed out that few individuals in Yemen document daily life and societal transformations through professional photography. She expressed hope that the event would inspire a new generation of photographers to chronicle the everyday lives and struggles of their communities.
Karman also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of Dr. Björn Wenngren and other scholars who witnessed Yemen's transitions. She emphasized Yemen's intrinsic desire for global connection, despite the isolation enforced by its internal and external adversaries.
Turning to the present, Karman described the devastating impact of nearly a decade of war on Yemen, including the collapse of institutions, the dominance of armed militias, foreign interference, widespread poverty, and human rights violations. She called for an end to the conflict, asserting that the Yemeni people deserve peace and prosperity.
Addressing broader geopolitical issues, Karman condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, denouncing the international community's silence and complicity in what she described as genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people. "The humanity of the Palestinian people is being slaughtered in Gaza today," she stated, urging decisive action to stop the atrocities.
Karman praised South Africa for highlighting Israel's actions and lauded the International Criminal Court's Prosecutor for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials on charges of genocide and ethnic cleansing. She called for global unity to ensure justice is served.
In closing, Karman thanked Dr. Björn Wenngren, the Tawakkol Karman Foundation, and its director Ms. Misk Al-Junaid for organizing the significant event. She expressed her unwavering belief in the resilience and future of Yemen, concluding with a message of peace and blessings.
Herein follows the speech transcript:
First and foremost, thank you so much. I'd like to emphasize how pleased I am to be among you at this event filled with history, art, and emotion.
I'd want to greet everyone, especially Dr. Björn Wenngren from Sweden, who is the reason we're all here today. Dr. Björn arrived in Yemen at a time when the country lacked everything but was shaking off the dust of stagnation and struggling to catch up with civilization's progress, despite a legacy of backwardness unrivaled in the world and countless conspiracies aimed at turning back time.
Dr. Björn, like many of Yemen's friends who decided to come to our country despite the fact that the political and social conditions were certainly not ideal or normal, or even at their bare minimum, found everything in its worst state and everything in its beginnings. Beginnings, as enjoyable as they can be, are also difficult, very difficult.
Welcome back everyone, and a special welcome to Dr. Bjorn, to this event in Istanbul. We wished we could have held this event in Yemen as well. We could have met in one of the Yemeni cities you know so well, to reminisce and share memories together. But as you know, Yemen is suffering through a complex and devastating war and coup, involving both near and far. Our great people will remember this war, which will eventually become a painful memory, with much reflection and condemnation.
Dear friends,
It’s no secret that images hold immense importance in preserving our memories, documenting significant moments and events in the lives of individuals, communities, and nations. Beyond these vital functions, images grant us the ability to understand the diverse emotions of people, their ways of life, and the various circumstances they face. The worst thing that can happen to a country is to become devoid of memory. This leaves it vulnerable to exploitation.
Despite Yemen's rich cultural and historical heritage, its political and cultural diversity, and its breathtaking natural beauty, the importance of photography has not been widely recognized. Even today, with the exception of a few individual projects that can be counted on one hand, this area remains sadly neglected."
While there has been a surge in interest in photography, particularly with the rise of social media and advancements in communication technology, the number of individuals who consciously document people's emotions and daily lives through the lens of professional photography remains limited. This event aims to inspire a new generation of photographers to utilize the power of images to chronicle the everyday lives and struggles of their communities, as well as to document societal transformations in customs, architecture, and other aspects of life.
Our dear friends,
We acknowledge the invaluable contributions of Dr. Bjorn and other scholars and photographers who witnessed Yemen's transitions. As you know, during the period Bjorn observed, Yemen was an isolated country. Sadly, there are those who seek to perpetuate this isolation, to return to a closed-off past. This contradicts the spirit of our times and the very essence of Yemen, a land of ancient civilization, and a people who inherently seek connection with the world, not just their immediate surroundings.
Our country, as you are aware, has endured a brutal war for nearly a decade, leading to a devastating reality. Institutions have crumbled, armed militias have gained dominance, and foreign influence has encroached upon all aspects of life. The collapse of essential services, the spread of poverty, and rampant human rights violations are stark reminders of the suffering our people endure. Now is the time to end this senseless conflict. The Yemeni people deserve to live in peace and prosperity.
There is no headline more urgent today than the one from Gaza, where a devastating conflict continues amidst international silence and complicity. How can we condone the genocide and ethnic cleansing inflicted upon the Palestinian people? The atrocities happening in Palestine demand immediate and decisive action from everyone. We cannot stand by in the 21st century and allow such crimes to go unpunished.
The humanity of the Palestinian people is being slaughtered in Gaza today. The ethnic cleansing and genocide being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people is a stain of shame and disgrace not only on the Israeli occupation but on the entire international community. The world has done nothing to stop these massacres, which occur daily under their watch.
I'm standing here today to honor Mandela's home country, South Africa, for bringing attention to Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people. I also praise the International Criminal Court's Prosecutor for issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defense Minister, advisors, and military commanders on charges of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in Gaza. I hope the world community comes together to ensure justice is served in this case.
Finally, I'd like to express my gratitude to everyone who attended this occasion. Thank you, Dr. Bjorn, as well as the Tawakkol Karman Foundation, led by the excellent director, Ms. Misk Al-Junaid, and her incredible and dedicated team, for arranging this important event. It will teach us about a period in the history of the Republic of Yemen, whose flag, by God's help and the will of our people, will never be lowered and whose objectives will never be hindered.
Thank you, and peace be upon you, and the mercy of God and His blessings.
