نعى اليم ...... سودانيز اون لاين دوت كم تحتسب الزميل فتحي البحيري فى رحمه الله
وداعاً فتحي البحيري
|
|
 Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! (Re: محمدين محمد اسحق)
|
Breaking Free From the Bonds of Slavery"
An interview with Maalouma Messaoud, slavery survivor and Mauritanian abolitionist
Maalouma Messaoud is the Bureau Chief of S.O.S. Slaves.
Maalouma Messaoud is the Bureau Chief of S.O.S. Slaves in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott. Messaoud is herself a survivor of slavery who has decided to use her freedom to help those who remain in bondage in Mauritania. Her work is complicated by the fact that the Mauritanian government has banned her organization, S.O.S. Slaves, and refuses to allow public discussion of the issue of slavery.
Messaoud visited the United States for the first time in December of 2003 on a national speaking tour arranged in conjunction with the American Anti-Slavery Group. The trip launched the release of S.O.S. Slaves 2003 Annual Report on slavery and human rights abuses in Mauritania. Messaoud spoke at Johns Hopkins, American, and Tufts University, as well as at a briefing in the U.S. Capitol Building.
She sat down for an interview with iAbolish at the American Anti-Slavery Group's Boston office at the end of her speaking tour. The interview was conducted in French and is translated below. As background for this interview, see S.O.S. Slaves website, an interview with the organization's Foreign Secretary Abdel Nasser Ould Yessa, and a backgrounder on slavery in Mauritania.
How did you as a child understand that you were a slave?
I was in born a slave in 1967. All my family were slaves, and we had been slaves to our masters for generations. My master relied on my family. Because I was born into slavery, I didn't know any reality but slavery. My mother served a master. And my father also served this master. So I served this master.
Did you ever wonder as a child: Why am I a slave?
Until I was eight years old, I never questioned my enslavement. But then other children my age from the neighborhood went off to school, and I began to think: "What's going on here? Why are these kids I know going off to school and I have to stay to serve our master." I began to ask myself all the time: "Why am I a slave? Why am I not free like the other kids? Why does the master make my parents work for him?" All day I thought about this. Sometimes I even asked my mother: "How come we're not like our neighbors?" She answered me: "We are abeed. We are slaves."
What was the worst part of being enslaved?
My greatest suffering was not being free to sleep like a normal person. As a slave, you are never able to rest, because you are always being manipulated and told what to do by your masters. You can't play like normal children. You feel as if you are in prison. Slavery is hard, it is suffering. You find that you have no free time.
How did you react to this suffering?
Becoming aware of my own suffering was a massive crisis of conscience. How I reacted depended on the moment. Sometimes you could find me sitting around sad, with my arms crossed in front of me. Sometimes you could find me wondering to myself: "Why am I enslaved?" Sometimes you could find me crying through the night, unable to sleep. All my life in slavery was painful and sad. I was never at ease.
Did other slaves around you express the same feelings? Or was it hard for you to be the only one enslaved with these feelings?
What astonished me is that sometimes I looked around at the other slaves and saw that no one else imagined that they could leave. They would even laugh sometimes, as if in a normal life. I thought to myself, they are like camels of the master. They could see that I was sad, but the mental chains of slavery in Mauritania made them believe they were doing a good thing by serving the master.
What was your relationship like with your father, who was also a slave to the master?
For my father, I am an example. Until today, our relationship is not like my relations with my other relatives. We are very close, and he enjoys telling me colorful stories from his life, from serving his master. He even tells me stories about traveling with his master to Europe, and the astonished reaction of the French who saw him with his master.
So he was a slave in France?
Yes, of course. He accompanied our master to France and served him there. For us, it is quite normal. A Mauritanian woman who owns slaves will often leave for Paris or New York with her slaves. I know a slave who lived all her life in Morocco with her master.
Woman and her children assisted By SOS Slaves after escaping from their master's family. (Photo by Maalouma Messaoud)
This is perhaps a difficult question that you may not want to answer, but did you experience sexual slavery or see it around you?
It is not a problem for me to speak about this issue. Sexual slavery was not something I experienced, nor something my family experienced, as far as I know. But there are many, many cases in Mauritania. At SOS Slaves, we are always helping women who have children by their masters. You can read about many cases in our 2003 Annual Report.
You live in Nouakchott with great sadness around you, and you work with so many people who have been abused. Does it bother you?
One time, a young woman came to us with three children. She was very young. She told me her story, and I spent the whole day crying. I cannot recount her story to you now because it's too disturbing, too painful... It bothers me too much… It's a very difficult life…
So how do you keep going?
I hope God will give me a long life, so I can keep up the struggle against slavery. And I hope that I will live to see a Mauritania without slavery. So I struggle every day. I can't leave Mauritania. I have to leave my door open to victims of slavery, to assist them.
Do you feel big changes have happened in Mauritania over the last 5 or 10 years? Some people that only "vestiges of slavery" remain in Mauritania?
I have not seen big changes. If there is one big different, it is our [i.e., Black Mauritanians] ability to discuss the problem of slavery with [Mauritanian] Arabs. Before you could not discuss slavery with Arabs, but today you can with some. In our organization, we have former masters who struggle with us. So that gives me hope that we can one day have a Mauritania without slavery.
What is it like working with former masters? Was it hard to work with someone from the social class that enslaved you and your family? Could you feel they were really with you? After all, they had once owned slaves.
I first met Mr. Yessa [the Foreign Secretary of S.O.S. Slaves] through a political party we were both involved in. I saw how he had relationship with Haratines, with former slaves. He treated them like equals. But at first I wondered: "Who is this guy in our organization? Has he really genuinely joined our struggle?" Now over time I have seen that yes, he has. And then later, I learned from others that when he was a teenager, he would go around telling slaves to leave their masters - who were his parents! So I know this is a longtime struggle for him and I have great confidence in him.
What is a normal day in your home, the unofficial headquarters of S.O.S. Slaves?
My husband and I are immersed in helping slaves and former slaves. If one day a slave comes with a problem, I become completely animated. It gives me courage to see that people have heard of SOS Slaves and have come to ask for our help. This is good news. Every few days, slaves will come with stories and with needs. I often spend time trying to find a lawyer to help them or a doctor who will give free medical care.
What kinds of problems does the government make for S.O.S. Slaves?
The government refuses to allow us to have a bank account, an open office, and even receive visitors publicly. We have to do all our work clandestinely. Every time we do publicity in the international media, they arrest the president of our organization - my husband Boubacar Messaoud. When he is out walking in the street, he is often followed by the police. Because our home phone is often bugged, we try to use phones that are not bugged. There are often undercover security agents spying on our house. Every time I go out in the countryside to gather data and photos for our report, I have to act as if I am just taking a recreational trip. And whenever our local activists around the country who try to go to Mauritanian authorities to intervene on behalf of slavery victims, they are told: Slavery doesn't exist here.
So you have activists all over the country?
Maalouma speaks at Tufts University's Fletcher School for Law and Diplomacy in late 2003, accompanied by former SOS Slaves American representative Moctar Cheine (left) and a student activist (right).
Almost everywhere. There are repressed, but we do have a wide network of abolitionists all over Mauritania. When there is a problem, either our local activists try to help victims or we come from Nouakchott to help.
Do protests against slavery and activism in solidarity with S.O.S. Slaves by Americans help you?
Absolutely. It is invaluable. In 1998, our President Boubacar Messaoud was arrested, letters of protest poured in. We rely on the solidarity and activism of people outside Mauritania. The last time Boubacar was arrested, U.S. Congressman Barney Frank intervened and he was quickly released. A little thing in the US becomes a wave in Nouakchott. It obliges the diplomats in Nouakchott to investigate, which forces the government to react.
What is your message to young Americans?
Stop your country's foreign aid to Mauritania until the government takes real action against slavery. Write, protest, lobby your representatives and leaders to put pressure on the Mauritanian government to act against slavery. Young Americans have enormous power. I am sure that changes will only come from youth activists, and young Americans are the most powerful in the world. With their help, we can transform Mauritania. At the very least, the Mauritanian government must end its ban on our organization. S.O.S. Slaves must be recognized as a legitimate non-governmental organization, so we can work without repression to help victims of slavery.
What is it like being a human rights activist in the Arab Muslim world, especially as so many ruling regimes in the region try to suppress civil rights movements?
I am proud to be an activist in the Arab Muslim world, in North Africa. There are so many dictators in our region, and our countries are not open to the world. We have to make a change, especially for women and children. But it's quite hard to be an activist, because you have to address so many problems. Still, I hope to have more contact with Arab and African human rights activists from across the region.
While nearly everyone in Mauritania is Muslim, does your organization work with activists of other backgrounds?
We are an open organization, we respect all religions, and the religious beliefs of all of our activists and all people in the world. We are in a struggle for human rights. Human rights means liberty for all people. It is a great pleasure to work with a multi-ethnic and multi-religious coalition.
This is your first visit to America. You seem to be looking around with wide eyes, seeing a world very different from Nouakchott.
The first shock for me was that in America is that you have a building for liberty: the Capitol. And then I visited an organization called "Freedom House." We have no organization or building with this name in Mauritania. So when I visited Washington, I thought it was great to have a building for liberty. Here in America, there are so many different racial and ethnic groups, but such an open society. Before I got off the plane, I was worried because I don't speak English. But as soon as I got into the airport, there were so many kind people who helped me, even if they didn't speak French or Arabic. And I saw all these nice students at the universities who want to help our struggle for freedom and democracy.
Here in America, we had a big problem with slavery. In addition, the emancipation process was not very successful, and it has taken a long time to deal with the scars of slavery. In Mauritania, slavery is even older, and has still not ended. Do you have a message for American descendants of slaves?
I hope to join hands with African-Americans. They know and understand slavery. I hope they can help us respond to those people who say there is no slavery in Mauritania. I hope they will do everything they can to help us, the slaves and former slaves of Mauritania, to end slavery in our country. Of course, this is also my hope for all Americans.
http://www.iabolish.com/act/abol/profile/maalouma.htm
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
|
| العنوان |
الكاتب |
Date |
| استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-22-05, 06:32 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-22-05, 06:39 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-22-05, 06:44 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-22-05, 06:54 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | saadeldin abdelrahman | 12-22-05, 06:47 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-22-05, 06:57 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-22-05, 07:13 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-22-05, 07:28 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | عبد الوهاب المحسى | 12-22-05, 10:36 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-23-05, 01:26 PM |
 Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-23-05, 03:00 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 10:43 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-24-05, 11:41 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 03:25 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-24-05, 09:10 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محى الدين ابكر سليمان | 12-23-05, 04:53 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Muna Khugali | 12-23-05, 05:07 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | هاشم نوريت | 12-23-05, 05:26 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Tragie Mustafa | 12-23-05, 06:57 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Mohamed Suleiman | 12-23-05, 11:01 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Kostawi | 12-23-05, 11:39 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Biraima M Adam | 12-24-05, 00:30 AM |
 Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | A.Razek Althalib | 12-24-05, 02:24 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-24-05, 10:57 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 02:23 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-24-05, 11:04 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-24-05, 11:26 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 02:02 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 01:55 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 01:39 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 01:02 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 12:42 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-24-05, 12:14 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محى الدين ابكر سليمان | 12-24-05, 04:35 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Biraima M Adam | 12-24-05, 06:09 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | عبدالرحمن عزّاز | 12-24-05, 06:39 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-24-05, 11:32 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Biraima M Adam | 12-24-05, 07:09 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Kostawi | 12-24-05, 08:02 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Mohamed Elgadi | 12-27-05, 02:25 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-24-05, 09:59 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-24-05, 10:41 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Biraima M Adam | 12-25-05, 09:13 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Biraima M Adam | 12-25-05, 09:48 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Biraima M Adam | 12-25-05, 10:58 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-25-05, 02:46 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-26-05, 02:53 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-26-05, 08:49 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-26-05, 10:32 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-26-05, 11:49 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-26-05, 09:22 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمود الدقم | 12-26-05, 08:50 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-26-05, 12:24 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-26-05, 07:18 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمود الدقم | 12-28-05, 08:12 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-28-05, 08:57 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمود الدقم | 12-29-05, 09:22 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | ayman haroun | 12-28-05, 06:17 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-28-05, 11:41 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | عشة بت فاطنة | 12-28-05, 12:07 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 12-28-05, 03:50 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | أنور أدم | 12-28-05, 09:33 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | Albino Akoon Ibrahim Akoon | 12-28-05, 09:42 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمود الدقم | 12-29-05, 09:38 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | ayman haroun | 12-29-05, 03:24 PM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 04-15-06, 08:25 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 04-15-06, 09:26 AM |
| Re: استرقاق السود بسطوة الدين و نقاء العرق ..الجراح التي لا زالت تنزف دمأ ودموعأ !!!! | محمدين محمد اسحق | 04-15-06, 10:07 AM |
|
| |
محمدين محمد اسحق
فيس بوك
تويتر
انستقرام
يوتيوب
بنتيريست