Dear Bisan,

 

I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirit. PEN Netherlands asked me to be ambassador for you and your work this coming year in the Netherlands. I felt honored and said yes. Not only because it gives me a chance to actually do something, apart from speaking out and demonstrating against the genocide that is taking place in your country.

​

I read some of your work, your writing as well as the work you are doing with the children in Gaza, your photography project. I am very impressed, by your poetic writing, the pictures that evoke so much more compassion and interest than the traditional pictures in newspaper over here that often reduce people to victims only.

​

And it humbled me, because I realize you are working under the most severe and oppressive conditions one can think of.

​

Forgive me if this first letter is a bit clumsy. Being safe here, being able to write and work freely, in a comfortable and warm home, fills me with a kind of uneasyness, shame almost, cause I realize this is not obvious at all for you and yours.

​

How do you keep your sprit up? How do you find the courage to work? 

​

Let me introduce myself. I am a Dutch author of novels, non-fiction and theatreplays. I am also active in the Dutch prisonsystem as a writer and an activist. For the last ten years I coached a creative writing group in a Dutch prison and founded an organisation that uses creative writing for the empowerment op people in prison.

​

I see a connection with your work with the children, in a way that we both use art, language, literature in a communal sense, as a way out, for self-improvement, liberation.

​

I try to imagine you working with the children – offering them a moment to forget where they are, to feel child again, to express themselves, the pain, loss, but perhaps also the hopes and joy within themselves.

​

I am asking myself what it means, being your ambassador, and to a greater extend, being an ambassador for writers in Gaza.

​

I’d like to  think of this project as an equal relationship.  As an ambassador I will talk about you and your work, the context in which you work, in different ways and on different occasions and places in The Netherlands, so that people over here don’t forget what is taking place in Gaza, and, hopefully, act accordingly.  I will seek contact with publishers here, perhaps organizing an event in your honor. Perhaps I can ask some of the writers inside the prison to participate in this project.

​

But perhaps you can let me know what you expect, what would be of help for you and your work. Is there a way in which we can collaborate artistically, in order to make the most of this project?

 

I have the impression we are kindred spirits; correct me when I am wrong.

​

It is an honor and a pleasure to work with you. Hope to hear from you soon.  

 

Wishing you nothing but good.

 

Christine