Naturally he couldn’t attend because he has been detained for the past 5 years and counting on Manus island where many refugees are still stuck in perpetual limbo, unsure if there’s any hope in their future.
The book, which details the horrors and daily life in detention, was written on a smuggled in phone, crafted one text message at a time, and meticulously translated into English. It won $25,000 for the Victorian Premiere’s Literary Away and $100,000 for the Victorian prize for Literature.
I’ve read this book and it is phenomenal. Not just because it’s a harrowing examination of the unjust system of detention that our government has forced refugees fleeing persecution into, but it’s so intricately and poetically written. You’d think that the method of writing would limit Behrouz’s language and descriptiveness but perhaps because of the constant restrictions of his freedom he has worked hard to push an intricate yet bleak painting of his situation.
Honestly you should read this book. You should buy it right now and read it. It’s one of the best books I read last year and I cannot recommend it enough. This man continues to fight against the oppressive and torturous conditions our government has forced him - and many other innocent people - into. His twitter account is also a good source of first hand information about the cruelty and brutality of indefinite detention.
stop celebrating………………accomplishments of women……in fields that literally hurt, murder and otherwise oppress women…….you are not feminist for flying a drone……or spilling 10 million oil barrels into the ocean…….or heading a company that pays their workers 2 dollars an hour…..or literally leading foreign invasion….like….you are just a capitalist
I was delighted to have my second comic published on The Nib yesterday! The script for this one is by Josh Trujillo, and the art is me. You can read my other Nib comic here. You can find more of my work on instagram, patreon and my website.
