Set against the backdrop of compassion and solidarity, this poetry night aims to raise awareness and funds to alleviate the difficulties faced by Palestinians in their pursuit of a dignified and peaceful existence. Join us for a fundraiser and poetry night, chaired by Anika Wadood.
WHEN:Â Friday, 19 January 2023, 18:30 GMT
WHERE:Â IHRC Bookshop (202 Preston Road, HA9 8PA) or watch LIVE online (YouTube, Facebook and IHRC.TV)
TICKETS: £5 per person
Book tickets here – SOLD OUT! Please email events@ihrc.org to be added to the waiting list!
Children aged 10 and under attend for free
All proceeds will be donated to IHRC Trust’s Palestine Appeal
Our Poets:
- Anika Wadood
- Hussein Sheekh
- Mizan Rahman
- Meral Alizada
- Huseyin Ali-Diakides
- Taslima Khan
- Zaynab Mufti
Agenda:
6:00pm: Doors open
6:30pm: Introduction and Poetry Reading
7:30pm: Break
7:45pm-8:30pm: Poetry Reading
8:30pm-9:00pm: Open Mic
About the event:
Set against the backdrop of compassion and solidarity, this poetry night aims to raise awareness and funds to alleviate the difficulties faced by Palestinians in their pursuit of a dignified and peaceful existence.
We will be welcoming a gathering of poets who lend their voices to the cause. Attendees will be treated to an enchanting display of diverse poetic expressions, each piece crafted to evoke empathy and shed light on the stories, struggles, and resilience of the Palestinian community.
The event is not just a platform for artistic expression, but it is also a call to action. All proceeds directed towards IHRC Trust’s Palestine Appeal.
Join us in turning the pages of compassion and solidarity, one verse at a time.
About the chair:Â
Anika Wadood is a Politics and History student, writer and poet, studying at SOAS. She organises and hosts poetry evenings, and has performed at various events in London. Anika’s writing and poetry explores themes of social injustice, cultural and religious identity through her own experiences and amplifies silenced voices from marginalised communities. In her spare time, she posts book reviews and involves herself within the South Asian creative community, taking part in exhibitions, photoshoots, and major events. You can follow her poetry account @reshamreverie.
About the poets:
Hussein Sheekh is a young writer from East London whose work explores themes of colonialism, social justice, family dynamics, love, and mental health. Influenced by his experiences living in Egypt and the vibrant energy of London, Hussein’s poetry is direct, honest, and unafraid to tackle tough subjects. He is passionate about using poetry as a tool for understanding the human experience and sparking conversation, whilst shedding light on the forgotten stories that live amongst us.
Meral Alizada is an educator, public speaker and author of Rumi’s Daughter, a metaphysical poetic account of actualising Divine faith. Her work surrounds Afghanistan, Palestine and British Imperialism, and has been described as transformative, hauntingly impactful, and heart-capturing, bringing to word and imagination, the unspoken, and undermined experiences of war torn and occupied nations.
Huseyin Abudharr Ali-Diakides is an activist, geopolitical analyst and poet. He is the Campaigns Officer at the Islamic Human Rights Commission, and is working with various organisations and political parties on matters of decolonialism and empowerment. He has two degrees in International Politics and International Relations, from Middlesex University, and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
In the past, Huseyin has campaigned for issues such as Islamophobia, Palestine, the Rohingya, Kashmir, Afrophobia, anti-imperialism, antiwar, reparations, police brutality and environmentalism. He has spoken regularly on television stations such as PressTV, al-Mayadeen and AL24, and has co-hosted a geopolitical and community organising podcast called Liberated Voices. He has given talks on Islamic History at libraries, mosques and colleges, and organised aid trips for refugees in Belgium and France.
