Tag: San’aa Sultan

A light in the darkness

Posted on by kathiemm

By guest author San’aa Sultan

Candlelight vigil in support of Palestinian prisoners
Photo by Sabiha Mahmoud; used with permission

Over the past few weeks we have heard stories of bravery, courage, hope, happiness, and grief from Palestine. The stories accompanied the news that just over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners would be freed in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli IDF officer who was  kidnapped from his tank in the Gaza strip and kept captive by the Palestinians.

As the news spread across the globe and different opinions were voiced, youth in the UK were planning something very different to send hope to those illegally detained by Israel.

Students, activists, and solidarity societies all over the UK planned a candlelight vigil, “A light in the darkness: A vigil for peace.”  The intention was to send light to those who had none.

A silent gesture of solidarity, peace, and compassion was being whispered about in the cold streets of Preston, Sheffield, Derby, Birmingham, and London by people who valued their freedom and that of the oppressed.

On Sunday evening the 30th of October, people all over the UK came together to light their candles, say prayers, send off Chinese lanterns and relight the flame of hope amongst those whose hope was stolen.  The vigil in London is set to take place later in the week.

Simple acts of solidarity like this work wonders to bring a touch of humanity to the struggles of those whom our systems work so hard to dehumanise.

Giving voice to the silenced (Stories of engagement)

Posted on by kathiemm

[Note from Kathie MM: Today, in honor of Ramadan, which is being celebrated this month by Muslims around the world, we are proud to present another case study in moral engagement—in this instance by our young poet/activist contributor, San’aa Sultan. Ramadan Mubarak.]

Child holding poster and flag in West Bank protest
West Bank protest. Photo by Hamde Abu Rahmah; used with permission.

I’m San’aa Sultan, a peace activist, a writer, a poet and an artist but most importantly a human being. Being human means that I feel the pain of those around me suffering and that I cannot close my eyes to the pain nor can I silently submit to a system and a world where injustice is normal.

I’m a poet and my words are inspired by the struggles of those whose names, faces and voices we do not know or value. I write because I feel it is my duty to give a voice to those who have been silenced.

I tie myself  closely to the struggles of Palestine and Kashmir because I don’t understand how over 60 years later we still speak of the same struggles and still watch the same people live under such harsh conditions and do not speak against any of it.

I run a blog called “Today In Kashmir” to highlight the suffering of those in Indian Occupied Kashmir and I’m also involved in prisoner support work with the Ministry of Detainees in Gaza. Through this, a sister from Gaza and I have set up a Facebook page called “Support Palestinian Detainees and Their Families” with the intention to globalise the stories of those detained by Israel.

I was suffering from many personal losses when my activism begun and in May 2010 when the Mavi Marmara was attacked by the Israel Defense Forces in international waters, I could no longer remain silent. Our struggle became one.

San’aa Sultan

My soul isn’t at peace

Posted on by kathiemm

[Note from Kathie Malley-Morrison:  Today we welcomeSan'aa Sultan San’aa Sultan, a 16 year old poet and activist from the UK who describes herself this way:  “I write to give a voice to the voiceless because I believe their struggle is mine and it is wrong to silently watch oppression. I believe it is not hard to achieve a world of social justice and peace if we all unite on what we have in common: a human instinct to be free.”]

My Soul Isn’t at Peace

I cannot sleep because we are not at peace,
They say this world is a prison for those who believe,
I believe there is right and wrong and no lines in between,
And that if you choose to speak you should only utter what you mean,
I believe in heaven and fear hell as well,
And believe in those who Allah sent to guide us when we fell,
I believe in love, freedom and justice,
And I am not prepared to believe this is what just is,
I believe in truth and value it above your lies,
And I believe my life is the reason for their cries.

Do I count this life as a blessing or a curse?
We have money but we live in a world far worse,
Than the poor who are humble and know what is their worth,
Nobody could put a price to their souls; not a man on this earth,

I carry the burden of death and your wars on my back,
And when an enemy strikes friends are quick to attack,
I stand for justice and peace and get told it is a lie,
I say “Search my soul through the vision in my mind”

See I recognise a man through the door to his soul,
Eyes convey the tales of many stories untold,
Like my brother I find it hard to sleep,
Cus my soul is ashamed and I am not at peace.

San’aa Sultan