Interview
Maysoon Majidi: ‘I have finally achieved my freedom today’
'When you arrive in a democratic country, the first thing you think about is freedom. When I went on hunger strike in prison, it was because I hadn’t had a hearing. I wanted someone to hear my story. I never had an interpreter. I couldn't talk to my family members.'
On February 5, Maysoon Majidi walked out of the Crotone Court hand in hand with her brother Rezhan. She was emotional and beaming after her full acquittal on all charges.
After the reading of the court ruling, you quoted Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. Why so?
Darwish saw his exile as a poetic and political act of resistance in the face of a historical reality in which individual freedom and collective liberation are yet to be achieved. I have finally achieved my freedom today. And for me, this is a day I’ll never forget.
To whom do you dedicate this acquittal?
To those who have stood by my side on this journey, to all the political refugees, to my lawyer, to my family who have been suffering due to my situation for so many months. But also to the politicians and the many friends I have met over these months. The time I spent in prison was very hard. When you arrive in a democratic country, the first thing you think about is freedom. When I went on hunger strike in prison, it was because I hadn’t had a hearing. I wanted someone to hear my story. I never had an interpreter. I couldn't talk to my family members. I made the trip together with my brother, and I couldn't talk to him for two months. I didn't know anything about how anybody was. I thought that all the 77 people traveling with me must have been arrested, because I didn’t know the reason for my detention. If I hadn’t had a support network around me, with so many letters and visits, I wouldn’t have been able to fight the despondency.
Were you affected by the prosecution's words?
During these months, and listening to the prosecutor, I suffered a lot because of what I was hearing and reading about myself. According to the magistrates, I supposedly gave orders on the boat and delivered water and food. Nothing could be further from the truth. If there ever was such an opportunity, I would have helped someone, but we each had our own backpacks with food and water. No one was giving anything to anyone. So, lies upon lies. A nightmare that I feared would never end.
For the past few weeks, you have been living with your brother in Sant'Alessio in Aspromonte. Are you thinking about staying and living in Italy?
The Welcoming and Integration Project (SAI) initiative that we have been enrolled in is exciting. I’ve gone back to writing and thinking about new artistic projects. For now, I am just enjoying this great day.
Originally published at https://ilmanifesto.it/finalmente-sono-libera-su-di-me-ho-ascoltato-bugie-su-bugie on 2025-02-06