On October 10, 2024, the 10th Festival Sabir was held at Città dell’Altra Economia, a renowned event space in the Testaccio district of Rome, Italy. The festival was co-organized by the Italian Recreational and Cultural Association (ARCI, Associazione Ricreativa e Culturale Italiana), Caritas Italy, the Italian Christian Workers’ Association (ACLI, Associazioni Cristiane Lavoratori Italiani), and the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL, Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro), with support from the government of Rome and Roma Tre University. Scholars, lawyers, and various professionals from diverse fields were invited by the organizers. Hundreds of activists from Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, and several European countries gathered for this four-day event. Notably, 70 Chinese Christian volunteers from the Association for the Defense of Human Rights and Religious Freedom (ADHRRF) also participated. Through various dialogues, the festival aimed to raise public awareness of the migrant crisis and global social inequality, while advocating for greater intercultural understanding and cooperation through cultural and artistic exchanges, with the goal of creating a world free from racism.
Festival Sabir was born one year after the Lampedusa massacre occurred on October 3, 2013, and this year marked its 10th anniversary. During the festival, prominent figures like Maria Grazia Gabrielli, confederal secretary of CGIL, Antonio Russo, vice president of ACLI Nazionale, Oliviero Forti, head of migrant policies at Caritas International, and Walter Massa, president of ARCI Nazionale, discussed the migrant crisis.
“What we are discussing here is rights, and the creation of an Italian and European society model truly based on solidarity and acceptance. We reject the new European migrant agreement, as it continues to promote the expulsion of migrants and the externalization of border management,” Maria Grazia Gabrielli said. (Credit: Collettiva)
As Antonio Manganella of Lawyers Without Borders (Avocats Sans Frontières)pointed out, “The fight for migrants’ rights is also about the rights within our own European countries.” He also highlighted the economic interests behind migrant issues, such as energy, “which bind everyone.It is no coincidence that we often hear that Italian foreign policy is defined by Eni (Note: Eni is the largest petroleum company in Italy).” he concluded. (Credit: Dire)
Throughout the festival, cultural activities, including exhibitions, debates, workshops, and concerts facilitated intercultural exchanges and raised public awareness about the acceptance of migrants and human rights issues. With over 2,000 participants, 200 speakers, and 64 events, Sabir became a vibrant space for exchange and growth. Up to 100 international associations participated in related conferences and training sessions, creating more opportunities for discussion and dialogue. Chinese Christian volunteers from ADHRRF actively participated in various sessions, calling on the Italian government to pay attention to the ongoing persecution faced by Chinese Christians. They urged human rights organizations to focus on the difficulties Chinese Christian asylum seekers encounter in Italy. After the sessions, the Christian volunteers posed for photos with the organizers and scholars, holding signs that read, “Protect Refugees,” “Stop Repatriation,” “Peace,” “Accept Refugees,” “End Religious Persecution,” and “Faith Is No Crime.”
On the evening of October 13, the festival concluded with a final concert featuring stirring rock music that electrified the audience. Participants expressed their desire to continue this fruitful dialogue and hoped that more people would focus on the future of migrants and refugees in Italy, working together for a peaceful society of human rights and freedom.
Captions:
Group photos of the volunteers from ADHRRF and the speakers.
