Other Audio Obscura
Square Sky For Bassel Khartabil [disquiet0271]

For Bassel Khartabil - 5 years held in Syria. Disquiet Junto 0271.

I wanted to play something slow and repetitive but also uplifting and (to my ears) also featuring hope. In our safe Western homes its hard to imagine the horrors of war and detention people like us have gone through. We can't imagine what its like to be held like this. I did meet Terry Waite (British hostage from 1980s Lebanon who was held for over4 years) at a book talk but what can you say to people in this situation. I hope one day Bassel can enjoy freedom again.

Disquiet Junto Project 0271: Prison Sky
Mark the 5th anniversary of open-source software engineer Bassel Khartabil’s detention.

Step 1: Familiarize yourself with Bassel Khartabil. This coming Wednesday, March 15, 2017, will mark the fifth anniversary of open-source software engineer Bassel’s March 15, 2012, detention in Syria. It’s been more than a year since anyone has heard from him. Three times in the past the Disquiet Junto has done projects to raise consciousness about his predicament. We did the first one in January 2014, creating a soundscape to go with Bassel’s CGI reproduction of the ancient city of Palmyra:

disquiet.com/2014/01/23/disquiet0108-freebassel/

We did a second one, “Placid Cell,” in March 2015, marking the third anniversary of his incarceration:

disquiet.com/2015/03/12/disquiet0167-freebassel/

And in November 2015 we created audiobook chapters from a book, Cost of Freedom: A Collective Inquiry, written in Bassel’s honor:

disquiet.com/2015/11/12/disquiet0202-costoffreedom/

Read more at freebassel.org/2.