Held on the occasion of 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆, the program included an 𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 for the participants and a screening of the documentary 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀, which focuses on the human rights violations experienced by women.

At this special program, 𝟮𝟱 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 belonging to women and children were exhibited. Among them, 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 particularly drew attention.

One of these items was the denim jacket belonging to Kurdish writer 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗦̧𝗶𝗺𝘀̧𝗲𝗸. The jacket she wore while crossing the 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰̧ 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 during the period when she was forced to leave Turkey was displayed in the exhibition as one of the symbols of the tragedy experienced. During the crossing, Şimşek was pushed into the water and survived at the last moment.

Another item displayed for the first time in the exhibition was the clothes worn by the children of visually impaired teacher 𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗺 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻 during the Meriç crossing. Demirdelen and her husband had been unjustly imprisoned during this period.

A total of 25 university and high school students volunteered in the organization of the program. The event was hosted by 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮 and 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘆.

The coordinator of the exhibition, Aslihan Kas, delivered the following message in her speech:

“𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀, 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲.”

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“Advocates for Dignity” President and event host Mehmet Saral welcomed attendees, describing the exhibition as a space to honor lives lost and people who have suffered, to uphold a shared responsibility to stand with victims. He noted that the display echoes concerns raised by international organizations, including Amnesty International’s “The State of the World’s Human Rights” report.

Visitors were confronted with intimate objects that survived when in some cases their owners did not — a photograph tucked into a pocket, a child’s notebook, a scarf carrying the scent of home. 

“These belongings remind us that behind every abuse is a life, a family, a story,” Saral said.

Calls for Unity and Human Dignity Echo at Sydney Human Rights Exhibition

At a moving gathering in Sydney, keynote speaker Jim Mein urged Australians to embrace unity and learn from the tragedies unfolding around the world. “The world needs to have a united world, and we as Australia can be a united role model,” he said, opening the evening with a call for collective responsibility.

Mein reflected on Australia’s multicultural identity, reminding the audience that “we are all migrants and we’ve got to learn to live together. Learn from Turkey so we don’t repeat their mistakes.”
He described multiculturalism as “the start of the journey,” emphasising the role of civil society organisations such as Affinity, Advocates of Dignity, Galaxy and the Uniting Church in strengthening social cohesion at a time when “political parties are arguing” and deepening divisions.

Drawing on his interfaith experience, Mein highlighted the shared foundations of major religions. “Our religions are similar… Jesus is actually mentioned more times in the Qur’an than he is in the Bible,” he noted, underscoring the importance of dialogue and understanding.

Remembering Turkey Before the Crackdown

Mein spoke emotionally about his past visit to Turkey, recalling the warmth of ordinary families who welcomed him into their homes. “They showed us remarkable hospitality; to strangers they had never met before,” he said.

He reflected on the spirit he witnessed among members of the Hizmet movement, describing it as a time when Turkey seemed closer to the European Union and more open to democratic ideals. “That world has passed now,” he said quietly.

According to Mein, the erosion began when “political orders take over traditional values and embark upon campaigns of censorship.” He warned that the decline of civil society, media freedom and democratic norms is not unique to Turkey. “What we have seen in our exhibition this evening is yet another example of how authoritarianism has been growing slowly but consistently around the world. These are very troubling times.”

For Mein, the transformation of those targeted by repression was profound. “Perhaps it was the triumph of dignity, courage and justice. Perhaps it was triumph rather than resilience,” he reflected.
He urged the audience to remain vigilant: “It really requires people to make these personal stands and to bring exhibitions like this one to observation.”

A Promise Made on the Banks of the Maritsa River

Filmmaker and advocate and curator of the exhibition, Ms. Aslihan Kas, spoke about the global nature of state violence and censorship. “Every story we share, every exhibition we open and every film we make brings us closer to justice,” she said.

She then shared the deeply personal story that drives her work — the death of her close friend Hatice Akçabay and her three children, who drowned while attempting to cross the Maritsa River to escape persecution in Turkey.

“People often ask me why I do this work. My motivation comes from Hatice,” she said.
Aslihan explained that she herself had been under investigation in Turkey and had planned to take the same journey. “The night before, I had a strong feeling something was not right, so I changed my decision. They went. I stayed.”

Hatice and her children never made it to safety.

“I attended her funeral, and there I made her a promise: if I ever reach a free country, I would tell her story and the stories of others. Their suffering wouldn’t be forgotten.”

Stories of Fear, Silence and Survival

Assistant Curator of the exhibition, Myra, explained that the exhibition brings together personal belongings and stories of individuals who have endured human rights violations. “There are many facts, reports and statistics, but violence, repression and oppression don’t live only in numbers — they live inside people,” she said.

She described how prolonged fear reshapes a person’s inner world.

“They shape how a person breathes, how they speak, how they live through the world. Living under constant pressure slowly changes the inner life of a human being.”

Myra spoke of the quiet brutality of psychological violence:

“People learn to lower their voices, censor their thoughts, measure every word, even in their own homes. It teaches the mind that silence is safer than the truth.”

For her, the exhibition is not only about past events but about the human cost of fear becoming a daily companion. “Human dignity is not only about survival. It is about being seen, remembered and witnessed… Sometimes it simply means staying present. Sometimes it means saying: I see you, your pain matters.”

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The event, organized in partnership with the Dialogue Institute of Kansas City, drew a diverse and engaged audience. Viewers were deeply moved—many expressing how emotional and thought-provoking the stories were. The powerful testimonies sparked heartfelt conversations and a renewed sense of solidarity.

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The event aimed to raise awareness among American audiences about ongoing human rights violations in Turkey. At its heart stood the Exhibition of Silent Screams—a powerful collection of memory objects, symbolic relics, children’s drawings, and firsthand testimonies from victims of political persecution and imprisonment.

The program began with a networking dinner, followed by a formal presentation moderated by Hafza Girdap, spokesperson for AST. In her speech, she drew attention to the subtle forms of oppression, including a case where, after the state-appointed trustee seized Fatih University, electricity to research labs was deliberately cut—destroying years of academic work stored in laboratory freezers.

Osman Dülgeroğlu, CEO of AST, thanked guests and stressed the importance of making these stories visible to American audiences. He emphasized the role of such exhibitions in building empathy and global awareness.

Aslıhan Kas, coordinator of the exhibition and director of the documentary Metamorphosis, shared her refugee experience and her seven-year journey with AST advocating for the silenced. She described how the exhibition was born out of a desire to give voice to the victims—through real objects that speak louder than words. One emotional moment came when she told the story of baby Enes, who was smuggled unconsciously in a suitcase across the border at just 18 months old.
She also remembered her friend Hatice Akçabay, who died with her child while fleeing Turkey, and stated that her promise at Hatice’s funeral—to carry these stories to the world—guides all her work.

Keynote speaker Dr. Kari O’Rourke, an educator and human rights advocate from Kansas City, shared that she is writing her PhD dissertation on the Exhibition of Silent Screams and helped bring it to three different Kansas City venues. She recalled the moment that inspired her:

“At the first event in New Jersey, I saw a woman crying in front of an object. She kept saying, ‘This is my sister’s.’ She didn’t speak fluent English, but we cried together. I knew then this exhibition had to travel. I invited it to my city—and I’ve made it my mission to speak about Turkey’s human rights tragedy.”

Joan Rivits, New Jersey Human Rights Commissioner, shared her observations from her visits to refugee camps in Greece and pledged her support to help bring the exhibition to several museums in New York and New Jersey.
DeAnne Dileo-Odria, former president of the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association, praised the exhibit’s emotional power, while current president Edie Peters Liguori said the story of baby Enes deeply moved her and shared her thoughts that people can do this to one another for no reason is beyond comprehension.

The event ended with emotional reflections and renewed solidarity:
Silent screams must be heard.

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Organized with the mission of “becoming the voice of more oppressed people,” the event underscored the vital role of volunteerism within AST. It was emphasized that volunteering is not merely about individual contributions but about building structured, sustainable, and coordinated efforts.

Key topics discussed during the event included:

• How to support AST’s activities more effectively
• How to operate a more structured and impactful volunteer network
• Screening plans for the women-focused documentary “Metamorphosis”
• Strategies for organizing the “Exhibition of Silent Screams” in state assemblies across the U.S.
• The cataract surgery project led by young volunteers

During the breakfast, the youth who actively contributed to the cataract surgery project gave a presentation about their humanitarian initiative. They shared the details of their fieldwork and long-term plans, and also noted that the project is planned to be presented at a conference held under the framework of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Throughout the program, participants exchanged ideas and offered suggestions for the organization’s future. AST officials emphasized the importance of volunteerism by stating, “We aim to grow by thinking together, transforming our spoken prayers into real action.”

This first AST and New York volunteers’ gathering, which is intended to become a tradition, was completed with a spirit of sincerity, productivity, and shared responsibility. With the continued strength of its volunteers, AST is committed to reaching more voices in need.

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On March 11, the documentary “Metamorphosis: Women’s Struggle for Freedom in Turkey” was screened in New York by Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST). Alongside the screening, a panel discussion and the  Exhibition of Silent Screams were held to bring attention to women’s rights violations in Turkey.

A distinguished group of academics, activists, and legal experts from the United States, Romania, Belgium, Denmark, and Canada gathered for this meaningful event, held over an iftar dinner.

Metamorphosis: Women’s Struggle for Freedom in Turkey

The director of the documentary, Aslıhan Kas, shared insights about the emotional and challenging filming process:
“After 2016, hundreds of women lost their lives in prisons, on migration routes, and under oppression. Tens of thousands have been forced to risk death and flee their countries. There were many hard and emotional moments during the filming.”

Kas emphasized that they interviewed four brave women for the documentary:

• A writer was imprisoned because of her writings.
• A dormitory manager was abused in custody and faced the risk of rape.
• A judge was arrested along with her husband.
• A mother of four was subjected to a strip search when she was arrested.

Kas stressed, “They resisted, and we bore witness. Now, we must share their voices, stand for justice, and ensure no woman suffers like this again.”

A Call for Solidarity and Justice

AST spokesperson Hafza Girdap moderated the program, emphasizing the emotional impact of the documentary.

Audience members reflected on the power of collective action, calling for solidarity in the fight for women’s rights.

Prof. Vonya Womack, President of Refugees Unknown, and Human Rights Activist Fatma Yılmaz also delivered powerful messages, urging continued efforts for justice.

Retired ophthalmologist Shelley Peck underscored the injustice against women, stating, “For years, women have borne the heaviest burden of political and social events. Even a movement promoting peace, education, and tolerance is distorted by those unwilling to understand.”

As Metamorphosis continues to be screened in private venues, it will also participate in film festivals worldwide, amplifying the voices of women.

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