Voices of courage, exiled but not silenced. Today, we spotlight the strength and resilience of activists in exile—individuals who continue their fight for justice despite being forced from their homelands. Their voices inspire change. ✊🌎 #ActivistsInExile #ExileStories

🚨 Our Activists’ Blogs Section 🚨 ❓ What if two master’s degrees couldn’t get you a seat at the table in the good Canadian society? 📝 "14 Years and One Tweet" by Luis Horacio Nájera In this blog, award-winning journalist @Najera13 shares his journey from fleeing death threats in Mexico to struggling for employment in Canada despite his qualifications. A single tweet about his frustration went viral, revealing how Canada welcomes refugees in principle but fails to break down the real barriers that keep them from fully integrating into society and securing meaningful employment. 📢 Read more: #refugeeswelcome #immigrantvoices #canada #humanrights #journalism #voicesinexile #equityandinclusion

Beyond Safety🛡️ 🚨Luis Horacio Nájera @Najera13, a journalist in exile from #Mexico, and Shabnam Salehi @shabnam_salehi, a women’s rights activist and professor from #Afghanistan, moved to Canada for their safety. However, they have faced significant challenges, including the loss of their professional legitimacy within the Canadian system. “This new world requires Canada to move from being a refugee-friendly into a refugee-embracing country,” says Luis, who describes how the Canadian system tells him, “No, you are not able to do your work again, or in the way that you did it.” Shabnam echoes this frustration: “Canada brings a lot of people, but doesn't try to integrate them into society.” Her family, with credentials in law, medicine, and engineering from their home country, has no clear path to continue their professions in Canada. 👉Watch this video to learn about the challenges Luis and Shabnam face, and reflect on what it truly means for Canada to embrace—not just welcome—refugees. Music: Lovely Piano Song Musician: Rafael Krux Site: License:

🚨What does activism mean to them? ✅For Yasmin Ullah @YasminJUllah, activism is breaking the silence, which means raising awareness about the Rohingya crisis and ensuring that displaced voices are heard. ✅For Lais de Souza @lmlais, activism is reclaiming narratives, which means using digital platforms to expose the violence against Black women in politics in Brazil. ✅For Tsering Norzom Thonsur, activism is shaped by exile and statelessness, which means a lifelong fight for identity, justice, and the right to belong. Though their struggles are different, their #activism is united by one truth: #silence is not an option. Their #voices and #resistance redefine what it means to fight for #justice. Music: Evidence Musician: Ahmed Sirour

📢 Samuel Kisitu’s exile story: escaping persecution & amplifying his voice 🗣️ 🔴 After fleeing political persecution in Uganda, @SamuelKisitu_ rebuilt his life in Canada, where he continues to fight for democracy and human rights. From grassroots activism to global advocacy, he remains a powerful voice for the oppressed. #uganda #activisminexile #humanrights #democracy #voiceagainstoppression 🖐️🖐️🖐️

@MehmetTohti Thanks so much! Your support is vital to us.

RT @MehmetTohti: @Voices_in_Exile is providing a platform and opportunity for various exiled groups to learn and expand together under prof…

@yuceltanay53 @MehmetTohti Exactly! It's crucial to address these threats to protect human rights and global freedoms.

🚨Our Activists’ Blogs Section🚨 “Shooting Star” by Ali Mirzad ✅In this deeply moving blog post, our activist Ali Mirzad @Ali_Mirzad, a tireless advocate for the Hazara people, recounts their harrowing history—centuries of systemic discrimination, ethnic cleansing, and genocide in Afghanistan. Ali shares a personal story of growing up amidst conflict, the lasting scars his father carries from the violence, and his unwavering determination to break the cycle of hatred and oppression. ✅The blog exposes the atrocities committed by various regimes against the Hazaras, from the 18th-century massacres under Amir Abdur Rahman Khan to the Taliban’s renewed violence in recent years. Ali highlights the resilience of the Hazara community and the importance of global solidarity in the fight against their ongoing persecution. 📢 Read the full blog: #hazara #afghanistan #humanrights #endgenocide #justiceforhazaras #voicesinexile #stoppersecution

🌍 Authoritarian Regimes Don’t Stop at Borders! Exiled activists face digital spying, threats, disinformation, legal pressure, and even violence. 🛡️ But they fight back with cybersecurity measures, global partnerships, legal advocacy, and awareness campaigns. 👉 Support them! Share this post to amplify their voices and promote justice. 🌟 🎵 Music: New Horizons 🎼 Musician: Rafael Krux 🌐 Site: 📜 License: #humanrights #exiledvoices #justiceforall #fightauthoritarianism

Quote of the Day! Today’s inspiring message comes from our Rohingya activist Yasmin Ullah @YasminJUllah. Her powerful words remind us of the importance of taking action and amplifying the voices of the Rohingya community and ethnic minorities from Myanmar. Your silence is your failure; silence is not an option. Strong voices are essential to challenge every injustice. Let’s stand together for justice and equality. 💪🌍 #quoteoftheday #rohingya #humanrights #ethnicminorities #Myanmar

RT @diary_khalid: Thrilled to share that my latest blog has been published on Voices in Exile.

🚨New Blog Alert: “Through Writing, I Found Healing and a Voice for My People” by Diary Marif ✍️ 🛑 Generations of trauma, systemic oppression, and the fight to preserve identity—this is the reality for Kurdish people. Despite these hardships, voices like Diary Marif’s rise to share their truth and inspire action. 📖 Diary Marif @diary_khalid, a Kurdish writer and journalist based in Vancouver, has dedicated his life to amplifying the voices of minorities and newcomers in Canada, as well as the Kurdish people's struggles in the Middle East. Originally from Iraqi Kurdistan, Diary holds a master’s degree in history and is a board member of an organization fighting racism. His writings have appeared in platforms like New Canadian Media, Rebel, and Toronto Star. In this blog, Diary reflects on his personal journey of healing through writing, shedding light on the struggles of the Kurdish people. From cultural erasure and systemic oppression to the enduring resilience of his community, he emphasizes the transformative power of storytelling as a tool for justice and empathy. 🖊️ “Storytelling is not just personal catharsis—it’s a vital link to our shared human history.” 📖 Read the full blog: #humanrights #kurdistan #justiceforkurds #healingthroughwriting #storytellingforchange #diarymarif #voicesinexile

🚨Mehmet Tohti @MehmetTohti, Executive Director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP), is a leading voice for Uyghur human rights. Born in Kashgar, a historic city on the ancient Silk Road, his journey from university biology teacher to exiled advocate reflects decades of #resilience and #courage. Since arriving in Canada in 1998, he has tirelessly collaborated with civil societies, NGOs, and governments worldwide to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide and human rights abuses against #Uyghurs in #China. 🗓️ In December 2024, the Chinese government sanctioned 20 Canadians and two advocacy groups, including Mehmet Tohti and URAP, for their relentless efforts to expose human rights violations against Uyghurs and Tibetans. [Read more about this news: Despite these sanctions, Tohti remains unwavering in his mission to defend human rights and pursue justice for those suffering under the authoritarian regime. In this compelling video, Mehmet Tohti sheds light on: ✅The harsh realities of Uyghur concentration camps and forced labour. ✅His advocacy works for Uyghur rights. ✅The global impact of China's authoritarianism and surveillance technologies. ✅The necessity for collective action to prevent further atrocities committed by China. 🔔Through his powerful words, Mehmet Tohti reminds us: "The experience of Uyghurs today could become the experience of others tomorrow."

✨ Happy New Year from the Voices in Exile Family ✨ As we say goodbye to 2024, we’re reflecting on the incredible moments we’ve shared and the progress we’ve made. We’ve been inspired by the strength, resilience, and passion of our activists. None of this would have been possible without YOU—our supporters, partners, and community. Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to another year of growth, resilience, and solidarity. Let’s make 2025 a year of positive change, together. 🕊️🌟 #thankyou #happynewyear2025 #togetherforchange

🌟 Quote of the Day 🌟 Today’s inspiration comes from Dr. Kawkab Alwadeai, a renowned Mental Health Expert and Human Rights Advocate from Yemen. Let Dr. Kawkab Alwadeai’s words inspire us to embrace the power of advocacy and mental health support in rebuilding lives and fostering hope. 💪🌍 #quoteoftheday #mentalhealthmatters #humanrightsadvocate #inspirationalquotes #yemen #advocacyforchange