Those people who no longer dare to visit their country of origin

Jad Jaber is from Beirut in Lebanon, but he is afraid to return there. He is known as a stranger and an Arab. The Torontonian is an activist for sexual and gender diversity. I know there [au Liban]I may be subject to anti-LGBTQ+ .

Whoever was the author of an academic publication and a book detailing the intersection between the Islamic faith and homosexuality has been brutally repressed. He has no choice but to leave Lebanon. Survival became dangerous for me. I could no longer live with my family, because I was also endangering them, He said. He moved to Ontario a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

” Even being in Canada, I am getting hate mail on my social networks. They say I spoil the reputation of Islam and the Arabs. »

A postdoctoral researcher on the topic of trans-identity, demonstrates that respect for human rights, including the rights of people LGBTQ+ has fallen dramatically in the world. Egypt is becoming more conservative. There was more art, creativity, and positive representations of the human body, gender, and sexuality. It has declined in the past ten yearsnotice. It’s the same in Lebanon and other parts of the Arab worldI finish.

political opposition

Joseph Petampa has lived in Ontario for over 20 years. Originally from Burundi, he used to visit his relatives, but since 2015 he no longer dares to return. Things got complicated. I made a movie that got me in troublesays the director.

The director explained that he had given the floor to opponents and victims of the government of former President Pierre Nkurunziza, who were, at the time, asking unconstitutionally third period. I’ve interviewed people who’ve been tortured, castrated by the established power, and then I’ve made a film about raped women who speak up to say what they’ve been through..

The documentary titled No for a third termIt should be removed from its website to protect workers who fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones. The president, who served his third term in office, died in 2020. [Actuellement,] There is a new president but from the same political party.

For the Torontonians, caution is still in order. He prefers to travel to the borders of Burundi, to countries like Rwanda.

Joseph Pitamba is also known for his film The Forgotten Great Lakes, which won the award for Best Social Impact Feature Film at the SIFA Festival last June in Montreal.

Photo: Stephane Cordier

freedom of expression

These are similar reasons preventing Fatoumata Keita, originally from Mali, from traveling to her country of origin. I’m afraid to go there because I express myself a lot on social networks and I don’t agree with that [le gouvernement] currentindicate.

Ms. Keita says she sees a suppression of freedom of opinion. All journalists who express opinions contrary to what the government wants are put in jail.

” All people who have dissenting opinions [à celle du gouvernement] gagged. Malians have always had a moderate Islam, this jihadist phenomenon today is new to us. »

Ms. Keita says she has sometimes been the victim of violent comments. I am treated as a stateless person because I do not support the transitional government.

Ms. Keita is saddened by the thought of feeling forced away from Mali. I intervened on the local radio. The journalist I worked with was imprisoned for no reasonas you say.

The Ontario teacher believes that this past collaboration also makes her a target in Mali.