Six years ago I lived in the UAE, which ranks 132nd in free speech. They didn't tolerate what I was saying so they put me in prison meanwhile they decided what to do with me, then they expelled me. I ended up getting asylum in Norway, the country that ranks #1 in free speech.
To every one of my sisters and brothers living under the darkness of tyranny in my beloved home region, the MENA: I will never, ever stop fighting for you. My freedom is not a gift, it's a responsibility that I feel upon my shoulders every minute of every day.
How many nights did I stay up wondering, praying, asking - why me? Why was I saved? Why me while others just like me were spending their nights in prison, under torture, on the run, or have already been killed? I'm not special. Why me?
I don't get to choose why. I am handed this enormous responsibility and the only way for me to reclaim my dignity and express my gratitude is to wake up every day and fight for them, who no longer have their rights. I will be in this battlefield until my last breath.
رب أعني فإني قد تجشمت أمرا لا طاقة لي به إلا بحبل منك
اللهم يا ذا الحبل الشديد
ويا ذا الأمر الرشيد
يا فعالا لما يريد
يا من لا يغلب جنده
ولا يذل أولياءه
ولا يرد قضاءه
أنت حسبي
ومن كنت حسبه فقد كفيته.
ويا ذا الأمر الرشيد
يا فعالا لما يريد
يا من لا يغلب جنده
ولا يذل أولياءه
ولا يرد قضاءه
أنت حسبي
ومن كنت حسبه فقد كفيته.
