by Nadjia Samour, Criminal defense lawyer

In collaboration with DE Appel (Amsterdam), CRA Goldsmiths (University of London), Ashkal Alwan (Beirut), OMAM (Université Libre de Bruxelles Royal Institute of Art (Stockholm), School of Architecture Royal College of Art (London), Oslo Academy of Fine Art and the Dutch Art Institute

This event will be held in english and is open to the public.

Tirdad Zolghadr will introduce the Why Germany online lecture series.

Within Germany, some of the most effective actors in the intimidation of Palestinians and their allies over recent months have been cultural venues, art schools and academic institutions. The hostility towards advocacy for Palestinian lives has surpassed recent escalations across Europe or the USA: the lockstep is more thorough, the language more hateful, the measures more extreme. With the help of historical perspectives and specific case studies of German art schools, universities and civil society, the Why Germany international lecture series addresses the eclipse of free speech and its ramifications for local cultural landscapes, but also for neighbors and allies - not to mention for Palestine itself. These weekly lectures are co-hosted by a network of institutions that grows over time. By means of a rolling program, it creates a space for creative, informed and considered expression. Importantly, the series will move beyond critique alone, to propose strategies for the future: which languages, alliances, policies and support systems might ensure a measure of autonomy in the longer term?

Nadija Samour works as a criminal defence lawyer specialising in political criminal proceedings and international criminal law. Previously, she studied at the Irish Centre for Human Rights and worked at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. In her work, she deals with Palestine as a question of international law, as well as a third world approach to this matter. Nadija together with other colleagues recently filled a criminal complaint accusing German officials of aiding / abetting genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by providing weapons to the State of Israel. She is also doing work against the suppression of Palestinian voices in Germany by defending constitutional rights in the face of growing prejudicial policies and bans on all things Palestinian.

Tirdad Zolghadr is an independent curator and writer. Published writing includes fiction, art criticism and curatorial research, e.g. REALTY: Beyond the Traditional Blueprints of Art & Gentrification (Hatje Cantz 2022). Curating includes biennial settings as well as long-term collective initiatives. Current teaching engagements include the Rijksakademie Amsterdam. Most recently, Zolghadr was Guest Professor at the postgraduate program of the University of the Arts Berlin.

Forthcoming Why Germany online events:

Tuesday 7 May 6pm CET
Host: OMAM, Université libre de Bruxelles
Speaker: Nadija Samour
For link and updated info please visit: https://msh.ulb.ac.be/fr/agenda/seminar-germany-s-palestine-problem

Tuesday 14 May 6pm CET
Host: de Appel Amsterdam
Speaker: Hanan Toukan
For link and updated info please visit: https://www.deappel.nl/nl/events/

Tuesday 21 May at 6pm CET
Speaker: TBA
Host: University of Witwatersrand (Wits) Johannesburg
For link and updated info please visit: https://www.swop.org.za/

Tuesday 28 May at 5pm CET
Host: The Academy of Fine Art at Oslo National Academy of the Arts, Norway
Speaker: Sami Khatib
For link and updated info please visit: https://artacademycalendar.khio.no/

Tuesday 7 May 2024, from 6pm until 8pm

Online on Zoom here