Understanding Prison
MENA Prison Forum in Berlin #6
One Year After the Fall of Assad: Transitional Justice, Memory, and Accountability in Syria
With Amer Matar, Yassin al-Haj Saleh, Oula Alshaikh Hassan & Anwar al-Bunni
Moderation: Lea Frehse
- Dialogue
Arabic /
English /
With Arabic translation /
With English translation /
120 – 180 mins.
One year after Assad’s fall, Syria faces a continuous struggle to even begin to come to terms with its past. The interim government, burdened by political and economic challenges, Islamist influence, and societal fragmentation, shows limited political will for genuine transitional justice. Violence continues, perpetrators remain mostly unpunished, and the fate of the disappeared is unresolved.
The sixth edition of the series “Understanding Prison” marks the first anniversary of Assad’s fall with a reading by Amer Matar, co-founder of the “Prisons Museum”, who will read from his personal security service interrogation file. Afterwards, Syrians engaged in the transitional process will discuss questions of justice and impunity, addressing the challenges of the past year. The speakers are writer and former political prisoner Yassin al-Haj Saleh and Oula Alshaikh Hassan, working for the Syrian NGO “Women Now” and and Anwar al-Bunni, lawyer and director of the Syrian Center for Legal Studies and Research. The discussion will be moderated by “Die Zeit” journalist Lea Frehse, who reports on Syria, the Middle East and on international security.
Dates
Current
Credits
A co-operation by HAU Hebbel am Ufer, MENA Prison Forum, UMAM D&R, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, medico international, Prisons Museum.
Location
HAU2
Hallesches Ufer 34, 10963 BerlinThere are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available. Four relaxed seats are available in the first row of HAU2.
