Writing to you from Manus Prison Camp

Kurdish journalist and author, Berhouz Boochani, has released his first-hand account of being incarcerated by the Australian government for five years on Manus Island. Here is his appeal to the wider community on how we can support him in his plight.

 

Dear friends

My name is Behrouz Boochani and I am writing to you from Manus Prison camp.

The Australian government has incarcerated me here for five years now and many of you are familiar with my writings.

I have been writing from within this prison camp from the beginning and also co-directed a movie with my friend Arash, which attracted global attention to our plight.

I worked on this book for five years by text messaging sections bit by bit and while enduring very harsh conditions.

People who know me know that I never ask people to share my writings or read them, you all continue to support me regardless. We have all been on a long journey together to change this barbaric policy and I appreciate everything you have done so far.

Last week my book No Friend but the Mountains: Writing From Manus Prison was released and we received so much great feedback from readers, many top academics in Australia and from different well-known universities around the world. This is a huge achievement and the reaction has been beyond my expectations.

I worked on this book for five years by text messaging sections bit by bit and while enduring very harsh conditions. I pushed my body to near breakdown in order to write it because I believe in this book and I believe it has the potential to create change.

I am writing this post to kindly ask you all to please read this book and pass it on to others. I do not mean simply share information on social media, I mean read it closely and give it to others.

Once again if you really care about me please read this book and pass it on to others, it is a crucial way to show support for me. Honestly, I do not need compassion, I only need this book to be read by as many people as possible because I pushed my body and mind to the limit in order to write it.

Finally, I wish to thank the ASRC for sharing this message and supporting my book. Together we can make political, social and cultural changes.

No Friend but the Mountains will challenge many perspectives about refugees from all over the political spectrum and I ask you to approach this book as a new form of art and resistance.

Follow Berhouz on Twitter: @BerhouzBoochani

Please buy and share No Friend but the Mountains across bookstores online.

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