Abdel Salam Schehadeh

Isn’t my right to sympathize with my students?!

In solidarity with the girls the workshop leader Abdel Salam Schehadeh is rejecting to come to NUFF!

What a hard moment it is when you stand in front of the complicated and harsh choices of this time in life…

To all my friends in this big world, I respect and appreciate each one of you, especially those whom have tried to be creative and find possible ways to a humanistic, more beautiful and more conformable life, in a world that is full of divisions and cries.

I will not go into the conversation that was between Riham, Fatima and I, regarding how important it is to travel each year to a country like Norway or a city like Tromsø, which reserves its beautify, the warmth of your real friends, your ability to watch the falling snow, and chances to be creative, not in a way to reach perfection, but rather to nourish and facilitate our lives.

Gaza is not the world … our faces carry the color of its dirt, its shy sun and its sea that wash our souls daily  … but Gaza is not the world.
The whole world is able to see Her (GAZA), but She is unable to see the world … nothing but rescue institutions, emergency situations and human rights organizations … especially those focusing on women issue .. But are not Riham and Fatima women too!!

When we try with Cinema, we cannot!! Isn’t my right to ssympathize with my students?!

And when we try to see the world though respectful invitation... We are banned!

The two girls were forbidden to join, as they built fancy castles founded by snow, much like their dreams.
Gaza is the city of love and compassion, who welcomes all of her visitors by warmth, is now a big refugee camp that has been so patient and bared much.

The people of Gaza refuse all governments that do not respect them, as Gaza is harsh and solid on its adversary.

Those poor people are being bombed by “Israel” with rockets costing millions of dollars, and are being kept from their sea, land and air … they are killed and newly born every time, not to take revenge, but rather to search and keep searching for, and to try to pass a message saying “ we are humans refusing all these insults. We love those who love us, and respect those who respect us … we respect humanity”. But still they are being banned! What’s is the reason for that?!

As a Cinema Director, I say it, I will not go without Riham and Fatime .. and I will not accept the reality that Riham and Fatime were refused by the embassy of Norway.

What does that mean? That the “Israeli” occupation is worldwide now!!

Cinema has saved me by teaching me to say my story honestly through my eyes , heart and feelings, and not to cry in front of people who are unable to hear!

I send you a message of friendship and love and an appreciated invitation from the Institute of NUFF who have shown solidarity and cooperation with me.

With all the love and respect I thank you and apologize from you. Hopefully one day we will meet together to continue telling the story which will be more beautiful with Riham and Fatima

More cinema and knowledge,

More learning,

as Cinema is our beautiful and sincere spirit                                              

Abd Al Salam