The session has just started. You are invited to join us with your questions.
After the session, you could view the whole dialogue in the recent sessions.
Yours,
IslamOnline Live Dialogue Editing Desk..
Name
Adam
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Can you tell us much more about documentary Campaign ,and what are your real motives for producing such films?
Answer
The Documentary Campaign was established in September, 2002 with the goal of producing and distributing documentary films that promote social justice and human rights. The intention was to make films in an artful manner on subjects that are not being made--about people who are invisible and often fall outside the realm of history.
The company seeks to use documentary film as an activist tool--to promote social change and raise awareness about contemporary political issues that affect real people.
Name
Mohammad
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Who are those Muslim Detainees ? What is their story ?
Answer
After the September 11th terrorist attacks, more than 5,000 Arab or Muslim immigrants were taken into custody by the U.S. Justice Department and held indefinitely on the grounds of national security.
Detainees were subject to arbitrary arrest, secret detention, solitary confinement and deportation. Most were held on minor immigration charges and were frequently denied legal representation and communication with their families.
The Justice Department has ensured the invisibility of these cases, by refusing to disclose the names and total number of people detained.
Many of the detainees had lived in the United States for 10-20 years and considered themselves nothing but Americans. They were often the victims of shoddy police work, racial profiling and anonymous tips. One man was arrested and detained for 10 months because a neighbor told the FBI he made "anti-American" comments.
Another man was held for more than 100 days because a co-worker turned him in to the FBI following a dispute at work. The FBI then found a flight simulator video game and a visiting ticket to the world trade center in his home and determined this was enough evidence to lock him up.
The stories go on and on. Basically, the government used immigration laws to detain people and then investigate whether they had terrorist ties. This represented a form of preventive detention not permitted under the US Constitution and international human rights law. Noted civil liberties lawyer David Cole recently wrote in the Washington Post "Many were arrested in secret, held without charges
denied access to lawyers, presumed guilty until proven innocent, tried in secret and kept locked up long after their cases were fully resolved. In the name of 'preventing terrorism,' the government has locked up more than 5,000 foreigners who had nothing to do with terrorism."
Name
Sally
- Australia
Profession
Question
After the disaster of Abu Gharib in Iraq , how can you see the American culture of violence domestically and overseas ?!!
Answer
Sadly, what happened in Abu Gharib was not surprising. What was surprising was that the abuse was made public. The government seems to be blaming it on a few rogue soldiers. This is a real shame as it will prevent a real analysis of the situation that might prevent something like this from happening again. I have a hard time believing that a few soldiers acted independently and if we don't get to the bottom of what happened, it will make a tragic situation even worse. In South Africa, many of the apartheid foot soldiers were left to take the blame, leaving the generals and government officials who gave brutal orders to kill and torture. Many consider this one of the failings of the truth and reconciliation process there; hopefully more light will be shed on the prison scandal, but I am not optimistic.
Domestically, many of the detainees in the United States prisons were also mistreated, though not on the level of the torture in Iraq. They were kept in solitary confinement for more than 100 days at a time; cells were lit 24 hours a day, many were physically assaulted, especially in Brooklyn's MDC prison, the place where most alleged human rights violations took place.
Name
Sajid
- South Africa
Profession
Question
You were the director of “Ten Years of Freedom: Films from the New South Africa”, what was the new perspective in introducing this historical experience?
Answer
Ten Years of Freedom was another project of The Documentary Campaign, which sought to bring the voices of a new generation of South Africans to the American public. So much has happened in South Africa since the first democratic election in 1994 and we wanted to bring this complex, evolving society to Americans.
Here is a deep interest in South Africa among Americans and in this rather depressing point in American history; I think people everywhere need a reminder that democracy is still possible. South Africa, despite its crime and persistent economic inequality represents the dream of true democracy perhaps better than any other country.
Name
William
- United States
Profession
Question
Why do you focus on Muslims only ? Do not you agree that after 9/11 there were many human rights violations against different groups?
Answer
Yes, there were violations against other groups, including Sikh Americans, who were the victims of many bias attacks here in the US in the wake of 9/11. However, we chose to focus on Muslim and Arab Americans because they were targeted by the government specifically because of their background.
They were the victims of blatant ethic profiling, were not granted access to lawyers and were held under inhumane conditions in the name of fighting terrorism. None of the 5,000 was convicted of crimes related to 9/11. The difference between the government round-up of Muslim and Arab Americans and the random violence against Sikhs is that the former was done by the government, often in secret and was not just the action of a few misguided individual citizens.
Name
Jack
-
Profession
Question
Why should we consider the security measures as violations of human rights , how we can save our lives ?
Answer
I again refer to David Cole's article. The government's anti-immigrant measures have made us less, not more secure. Of the more than 5,000 foreign nationals subject to preventive detention, for example, none has been charged with being associated with Al Qaeda or with complicity in the attacks of Sept. 11
Only three have been charged with any terrorist crime at all, and two of those three were acquitted of the terrorism charges at trial. The lone conviction is now under a cloud because the prosecutor failed to disclose the defense evidence that its principal witness lied on the stand ethnic profiling is not a way to catch terrorists. In fact, it alienates the very communities that government most need to work with if it is really find Al Qaeda supporters who seek to kill. Also, where does it stop? There's a reason we have a Constitution and this document needs to be adhered to perhaps more--not less--than ever in times of national security.
There's historical precedent to this as well. In 1919 -1920, the federal government responded to terrorist bombings by rounding up thousands of foreigners, not for their connection to the bombings, but for technical immigration violations and association with the Communist Party. The internment of Japanese Americans during World War Two is another period we would now like to wipe from our history books. Why can't we learn from the past?
Name
Fatima
- United Arab Emirates
Profession
Question
What are the main artistic characteristic of your film about the detainees, and what about the budget and the crew?
Answer
Persons of Interest consists of a series of intimate encounters with 12 detainees and family members in a bare room that functions variously as an interrogation room, prison cell and home. In these encounters, detainees share their stories, show photographs, read letter written in jail, re-enact their prison experience--and even sing.
Since the names and number of detainees were not released, we really wanted to focus on making these people visible. We wanted to give them a chance to focus on their stories without any interference. From the responses at screenings we've had, there has really been a sense that people have come away with an understanding of the humanity of these detainees .They are fathers and sons and brothers and they have sons and daughters and mothers and sisters that were devastated by their detentions. Families were broken up--and remain so today--because of the detentions and subsequent deportations. It is in a way a very simple film, focused on giving voice to the human cost of the U.S. government's anti-terror campaign.
As for the crew and budget, the film cost about $50,000 to make. It was shot over the last three days of Ramadan,, 2002 with about 20 crew members. The research for the film took about five months. It was very difficult to find the detainees and get them to agree to be filmed.
For more information on the film, including press reviews, you can visit
Are there any evidence of torturing the detainees in America and how you can see that?
Answer
There isn't evidence of torture like that which we saw in Iraq. However, the detentions themselves are unconstitutional. And, there is evidence of mistreatment, both at the Guantanamo camp in Cuba and at the MDC in Brooklyn, New York. The inspector general of the Justice Department issued a report last June that said there were "significant problems" with the detentions. The report states that there was "a pattern of physical and verbal abuse by some correctional officers at the MDC against some September 11 detainees, particularly during the first months after the attacks and during intake and movement of prisoners."
Certain conditions of confinement at the MDC were unduly harsh, such as subjecting the September 11 detainees to having two lights illuminated in their cells 24 hours a day for several months longer than necessary.
Name
Emily
- United States
Profession
Filmmaker
Question
How do you feel about video as a tool for activism and what audiences has it helped you reach? What advice do you have for young political filmmakers?
Answer
Video is a powerful tool for activism. It enables you to reach wide audiences that might not be reached through other mediums. We have been able to bring this film to such a diverse array of audiences and each time, people have commented that they were not aware of the scope of the problem. Many wanted to know what they could do to help. And, while it's not always easy to answer the "what can I do to help" question, it is important to recognize that knowledge is powerful. Right now, the best thing we in the US can do is to vote and get the current administration out of office. Maybe the film can play just a small role in activating people to go to the polls in November.
Name
Yasmine`
-
Profession
Question
How did you get the information you have used in making your movie?
Answer
Since the government refused to release the names and numbers of detainees, we worked with a number of grassroots organizations that were providing financial, psychological, and legal assistance to the detainees. One group, Islamic Circle of North America, had been providing tons of support to the detainees and they were a valuable source of information and contacts.
It was difficult to get people to talk with us, as there was a lot of fear during the time we were making the movie. Detentions were (and still are) taking place. But by working with the community groups, we got families to trust us with their stories
Name
Leen
-
Profession
Question
Assalaamu alaikum
could you tell us under which law in america is the government arresting people without real charges and evidence? And is this a recent Act or has is always been there?
Answer
The government used immigration law to arrest people on minor charges that never would have been looked at before Sept. 11. These were things such as overstaying a visa or missing an immigration court hearing. They then held these people on the immigration violations while they investigated them for terrorist ties. The cases often got bogged down in red tape and people ended up being held long after they were cleared of terrorist ties--often for more than one year. Human Rights Watch has called the detentions a form of preventive detention and an "end run around the constitution" that is not allowed under international human rights law.
Name
Alian
- Pakistan
Profession
Question
I'm more than interested in the independent cinema , but many may have their doubts against its effect,what do you think ?
Answer
Look at Michael Moore's new film Fahrenheit 9/11. It is creating such a buzz around the world right now and the government is obviously so afraid of its release. First, Moore couldn't get a distributor, and then right wing forces tried to prevent theaters from showing the film. Then, they gave it an R rating, which means young people can't go see it without an adult. It shows that independent film can be powerful. It's one of the only media forms not beholden to corporate interests. And, though it is difficult and costly to make a movie that promotes real change, which is what we are trying to do at The Documentary Campaign.
Name
reham
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Do you think there is any hope for making lobbies that may change American policies and who are the groups of these lobbies ?
Answer
We have an extremely important election coming up in November. The best thing people can do it is to vote the Bush administration out of office. That's the way policy change can begin to happen. But even if we are fortunate enough to elect a new president, people will still have to organize to make sure he is accountable to the majority of the people.
The powerful lobbies are traditionally the ones with the most money. Companies like Halliburton can dictate foreign policy because they can give the financial boost to sway elections. American electoral politics is overrun by money and I don't know what can be done to change that.
Name
khursheed
- India
Profession
construction contractor
Question
Aslamualekum,
The act of filming detainees revealed prevailing atmosphere, attitude and conspiracy to humiliate Muslim community as a whole, which U.S. Strategists
meticulously planned. Do you agree?
Answer
I would agree that the photographing of the detainees in Iraq was intended to humiliate them and think that the directive came from higher authorities than the foot soldiers who have thus far been implicated. We have filmed the detainees for the opposite reason, with their permission and to show their humanity.
Name
Sarah mostafa
- United States
Profession
Student
Question
Assalmau ALiakum
Just how much can you film in such restricted areas such as Guantanamo or Abu Gharib. How easy is it to broadcast any such documentaries to bring them into closer attention?
Answer
It is impossible to gain access to film in such detention centers. They just let a reporter from the NY Times into Guantanamo to witness an interrogation, but it was well-planned and you have to wonder if the interrogation the reporter witnessed was really like all the others when reporters are not around.
Name
Ayah Mostafa
-
Profession
Student
Question
Now that we know that more than half of all accused Muslims around the world are innocent, do these documentaries serve their purpose as being internationally known tools for Human Rights? How much publicity do these documentaries receive? More importantly, how often are they believed (taken seriously)?
Answer
Persons of Interest just screened to sold-out audiences at the Human RIghts Watch International Film Festival in New York City. It will play at a number of festivals around the world from South Africa to Switzerland over the summer. We received many positive reviews in places like the UK Guardian, the New York Times, the Nation and other places. It is difficult to get attention for low budget films, but the more people who get to see it, the bigger impact it will have. We just finalized a deal to bring the film to a theater in New York City during the Republican National Convention in late August. It will screen at Cinema Village in New York's Greenwich Village for about a week beginning Aug. 27. DVDs will be available from our website beginning sometime in September or October. Please check back atwww.documentarycampaign.org in September for information on how to obtain a copy of the film or for info on screenings in your area of the world .People have really reacted with strong emotion to seeing the film and we hope as many people across the world as possible have a chance to see it. Thanks to Isamonline.net for letting us share the film with you in this unique online format.
