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'Since moving to Ireland I have been born again, I want to thank the country for that'

A Sudanese journalist and painter talks about fleeing his home country after receiving death threats.

I’M NASIR ELSAFI, a Sudanese journalist and painter. I came to Ireland about six months ago and live in a Direct Provision centre in Longford.

Before I left Sudan I worked with a number of human rights organisations that dealt with issues such as women’s rights and fighting illiteracy.

I decided to leave Sudan after death threats and repeated problems with authorities. Since the National Islamic Front took over the government via a coup in 1989, I have been critical of it.

Because of this, I was arrested a number of times. On the last occasion I was tortured for almost four months and my right leg was broken.

I was resisting their attempts to silence me but eventually I started getting death threats from some Islamist movements. I used to write for a number of newspapers but, after I was prevented from practicing journalism, I devoted my time to freelance jobs and painting.

I wrote a film script about a Christian priest who had great influence in contemporary Sudanese history. The Sudanese government’s security forces stopped the project. I then received phone calls telling me I would be killed. So I chose to leave my home.

I chose safety over staying there because I have a family, they were also being threatened. So we had no alternative but to leave. Sudanese authorities are against innovation and art. We moved to a few different places before all these factors pushed me to leave the country.

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Video produced by Niamh Heery of Swansong Films

I am a Sunni Muslim. Sufism represents the moderate Islam that is followed by the majority of Sudanese people. It is an Islam of tolerance, not political Islam. The latter is the religion of the government and other jihadist movements such as ISIS, the Muslim Brotherhood and Wahhabism. They belong to hostile Islam. Sudanese people have been brought up in a moderate environment that recognises and respects other cultures.

The International Criminal Court has accused President Omar al-Bashir of committing war crimes, murder and rape in Darfur.

His government suppresses freedom of speech and many journalists have been arrested. Some of my journalist colleagues have been flogged for carrying out their work. Under Islamic Sharia law in Sudan, if a woman goes out without a headscarf, or wearing trousers, she will be punished. Our country is full of violations against human rights.

I’m really afraid that the situation in Sudan is getting worse. The situation there is liable to explode because protesters are calling for the government to step down. The government is ready to bring war from provinces to the capital, Khartoum. There are arrests and death. It is a deepening crisis.

‘I studied Irish literature’

I chose to come to Ireland for a number of reasons. I had read about the country and knew that a lot of Sudanese doctors moved here. Ireland is a quiet country – artists and writers like quiet places. I had studied Irish literature, such as Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw.

I also admired Ireland’s neutrality, the fact that it doesn’t intervene in international conflicts. Irish society is a peaceful and understanding society that is open to other cultures.

I knew about European society and values through my work. I have some problems with the language but I’m learning English and will become better at it with time.

Irish authorities gave me a warm welcome. They knew where I was coming from and how I had been treated. They listened to me and granted me residency here for six months. The way they welcomed me made me feel like I’m a human being. It was very different to how I had been treated in Sudan.

Since moving to Ireland I feel like I have been born again, people here are tolerant, progressive and understanding. Ireland has provided safety to me and others, I want to thank the country for that.

Some people come here from places of conflict. They don’t have any knowledge of Irish or European culture or society. If refugees and asylum seekers could be taught about this, it would help them understand more about their new home. Immigrants must respect the laws and values of the country which they move to – in Ireland, those laws and values are based on diversity and freedom.

As well as teaching them about the customs and history of the country, I believe they need to be allowed to work so they can fully integrate into society. These people have skills and energy and need an outlet.

Since I arrived here I have been focusing on my art, and teaching other people at the Direct Provision centre how to paint. Painting can be used to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate with the wider community, and it gives them the opportunity to express their emotions. I have participated in a few exhibitions in Longford and Dublin. I’m thankful to the organisers for asking me to get involved.

The themes I explore in my work are peace and tolerance. Art can connect people from different ethnic origins, it builds bridges and narrows the distance between different cultures. It is the only common language we all have.

Video produced by Niamh Heery of Swansong Films

Supported by the Mary Raftery Journalism Fund and the Tony Ryan Trust

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    Mute Ronan Stokes
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    Jun 28th 2014, 7:59 AM

    Have a great day all!!

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    Mute Lang
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    Jun 28th 2014, 8:18 AM

    Hope everyone has a fan-bloody-tastic day!!

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    Mute Noble Gas
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    Jun 28th 2014, 8:00 AM

    I am the only gay in the….no wait. Have fun everyone!

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    Mute Joanne Champ
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    Jun 28th 2014, 8:28 AM

    Have a fantastic day everybody xxx

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Jun 28th 2014, 9:23 AM

    Happy Pride day folks. This is your day and I hope you enjoy it.

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    Mute Fognostical
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    Jun 28th 2014, 8:25 AM

    Enjoy yourselves :-) , as the late Larry Grayson always said “What a gay day!”

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    Mute Maria Dardis
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    Jun 28th 2014, 8:43 AM

    Good stuff, fair play to all of you! Have a gteat day. M.

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    Mute kingstown
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    Jun 28th 2014, 9:22 AM

    Bet David Quinn and Breda O’Brien will be seething in their pews waiting to scribble down their anti-gay hatred or as they call it -their sincerely held beliefs’

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    Mute John Deegan
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    Jun 28th 2014, 9:29 AM

    It’s your day today. Shouldn’t you be happy? I suspect you’re not.

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    Mute Noble Gas
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    Jun 28th 2014, 9:31 AM

    It’s all a misunderstanding. They think gay people are a great bunch of lads , but only an invisible man told them that gays were against the natural order of things and shouldn’t have the same rights as straight people. No offence intended – it’s the invisible mans fault really.

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    Mute Danny Rigg
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    Jun 28th 2014, 7:52 AM

    I’m already on the train to Dublin. I hate crowds

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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Jun 28th 2014, 8:01 AM

    Let them March. What harm can be done?

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    Mute Samuel Ista
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    Jun 28th 2014, 12:18 PM

    This parade is unsuitable for a city centre in daytime due to the outfits that many of the participants wear. Grown men in leather thongs should not be allowed in public. Personally I find it stomach turning.

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jun 28th 2014, 10:39 AM

    Anyone know the best spot to watch the parade? I’m dying my hair bright pink in honour of the day that’s in it :)

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    Mute Ailbhe O'Nolan
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    Jun 28th 2014, 11:26 AM

    Woah Jane, nice! Good on ya

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jun 28th 2014, 11:45 AM

    Any excuse really, Ailbhe. It was blue and green last week ;)

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    Mute George Hogan
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    Jun 28th 2014, 12:58 PM

    @jane
    Bet you’ll look stunning Jane! Happy Pride all. Looking forward to a great day. Get involved people – share the love!
    @ Ailbhe – have a great day, even if you can’t make Pride this year! Great news about your grandparents. Older people are great and can really surprise sometimes!

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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jun 28th 2014, 2:22 PM

    George, what a lovely positive thing to say! I’m not sure you belong on the Journal ;)

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Jun 28th 2014, 10:26 AM

    How many letters are they going to end up with??

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    Mute significantrisk
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    Jun 28th 2014, 10:48 AM

    As many as it takes until “people” includes everyone equally.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Jun 28th 2014, 11:07 AM

    Maybe just call themselves people then. No need to differentiate from anybody any other way inclined?

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Jun 28th 2014, 12:58 PM

    Anybody else find it unusual that the parade got routed across Butt Bridge?

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    Mute George Hogan
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    Jun 28th 2014, 1:12 PM

    Eh, no!

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    Mute Joe The Man
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    Jun 28th 2014, 10:09 AM

    Looks like fun!!

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    Mute Stevie J
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    Jun 28th 2014, 9:39 AM

    What does the Q stand for in LGBTQ?

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    Mute roryboyle
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    Jun 28th 2014, 9:55 AM

    Queer, men that sleep with men but do not consider themselves gay.

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Jun 28th 2014, 10:00 AM
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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Jun 28th 2014, 10:02 AM

    It stands for “questioning” surely…

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    Mute Patrick Varley
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    Jun 28th 2014, 10:05 AM
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    Mute Jane Travers
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    Jun 28th 2014, 10:38 AM

    It’s “questioning” not queer.

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    Mute Stevie J
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    Jun 28th 2014, 12:08 PM

    Cheers

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    Mute Taxi Bill
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    Jun 28th 2014, 11:56 AM

    Enjoy the party, because probably in less than 50 years you probably wont be able to have one at all. As radical Islam occupies much of Europe their tolerances of ANYTHING different (cartoons) gets met with a bullet at the back of the head. (lets face it how many pride festivals are there in Saudi for example) Even now we see “women” and children (not men mind you! ) in Ireland covered from head to toe in black and people hardy bat an eyelid. LGBTQ people fought long and hard for the freedoms you have, well enjoy them while you can!!

    Of course that could NEVER happen in Ireland????

    Well add a little section of the parade to pass by the Mosque in Clonskea and see the reaction.

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    Mute Michael Fallon
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    Jun 28th 2014, 12:14 PM

    Down with this type of thing

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    Mute Sheldon Sheridan
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    Jun 28th 2014, 2:36 PM

    40,000 in Dublin? PinkNews is saying there’s 20,000 at London’s Pride today. If the figures are correct, I’m thrilled.

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    Mute Mad Taoiseach
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    Jun 28th 2014, 7:19 PM

    12,488 showed up.

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    Mute Samuel Ista
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    Jun 28th 2014, 12:15 PM

    This parade is unsuitable for a city centre in daytime due to pretty nasty and very sexual outfits that many of the males wear. Men in leather thongs or hotpants, it’s disgusting and perverted and doesn’t encourage respect from straight folk like me. These adult men and women obviously have a twisted sense of their place in society and relish the opportunity to parade their perversion. I guess the vast majority of mature, intelligent, and self respecting gay people stay home today and are very embarrassed by the freaks who claim to represent their sexuality.

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