Death Journey by Hind Al-Harby

Last June 14, Hind Al-Harby told her story in the framwork of the Monodrama Fundamental Festival. The location was the intimate Kasemattentheater that perfectly fitted the story.

I was born in a war.

I lived in a war and,

I ran away from a war.

Death Journey starts in Baghdad before the US invasion. A terrorist free and beautiful city under Saddam Hussein, where Hind grew up feeling safe. However, everything changed…

Hind is a young Iraqi TV-journalist that used to work and produce programs in Baghdad, Iraq. Putting her life at risk every day for doing her job wasn’t an issue, it was part of her work, until she received real death threats. In 2013 after escaping a murder attempt there was no other solution then fleeing her country with her family.

She takes us through her life-threatening and heartbreaking journey from Iraq to Luxembourg. Don’t expect a usual theatre piece. This is an intense 50 minutes ‘improvised’ piece that will tear you emotionally apart. Hind has no need to memorize text. She just follows her heart while telling us her story. Luxembourgian journalist Annick Goerens gives her some directions asking Hind a few questions during the piece.

Hind opens herself up with photographs and videos, showing us that it never gets easier to retell and relive her journey. After all the terror she had been through we realize she still is one of the lucky ones: today she is safe in Luxembourg. How many asylum seekers lose their lives every day? How many are send back to their countries after surviving a death journey?

When people flee their home with nothing, the only things they have left are their culture, their way of life and their stories. This is Hind Al- Harby’s story.