Exhibition of Silent Screams Opens in Melbourne, Spotlighting Human Rights and Shared Responsibility
Melbourne hosted a significant community and human rights gathering this week with the opening of the Exhibition of Silent Screams, an immersive memorial exhibition presented by Advocates for Dignity (AFD) in collaboration with the Advocates for Silenced Turkey (AST). The event, supported by the Selimiye Foundation and Sirius College, brought together members of the judiciary, academia, legal and human rights sectors, refugee organisations, and interfaith and community leaders—uniting diverse voices around the shared values of dignity, justice, and social harmony.
The evening commenced with a welcome delivered by Miss Sevval Ergun, who introduced the Master of Ceremonies, Mr George Donikian, a respected media professional and long-standing figure in Australian broadcasting. Mr Donikian’s career spans more than four decades, including his role as the first news anchor on SBS and his work across SBS, Nine, and Ten networks. He currently leads Donikian Media, providing production services and professional training and mentoring for radio and television talent.
Opening his remarks, Mr Donikian offered an Acknowledgement of Country, paying respect to the Traditional Owners of the land and their Elders past and present. He then welcomed the distinguished guests, noting the presence of representatives across the judiciary, academia, human rights and refugee advocacy, and faith and community leadership. He also invited attendees to share reflections and photographs from the evening using the hashtag #AFDSILENCEDTURKEY, reinforcing the event’s aim to extend awareness beyond the room.
An Exhibition Grounded in Memory, Conscience, and Human Dignity
Mr Donikian introduced the exhibition as a platform for preserving lived experiences through “personal memory objects”—items belonging to individuals who have endured political persecution, imprisonment, forced exile, and civil death. The exhibition, he noted, has been presented at dozens of events across North America and continues to grow as a living archive of memory and justice.
The exhibition includes hundreds of objects and testimonies and presents stories from a wide range of affected communities—journalists, educators, women, children, activists, and other marginalised groups. Throughout the evening, speakers emphasised that the exhibition is not driven by religion, ethnicity, or ideology, but by a universal commitment to human rights and remembrance. As articulated in the program, the purpose of Exhibition of Silent Screams is to bring people of different backgrounds together, creating connection through a common denominator: shared humanity.
Welcome Address from Advocates for Dignity
The program then welcomed Mr Abdul Celil Gelim, Executive Director of Advocates for Dignity, who formally greeted attendees and spoke about the organisation’s mission and the significance of the exhibition. Mr Gelim, an educator and community leader with extensive intercultural leadership experience in Australia and internationally, addressed the audience with a message centred on unity and justice.
In his speech, Mr Gelim acknowledged the Traditional Owners of the land and thanked supporters who contributed to the event, highlighting that the gathering was intended to be more than a social evening—it was a reaffirmation of dignity, solidarity, and moral responsibility.
He outlined AFD’s vision: promoting democratic principles, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights in Australia and globally. He emphasised that human rights are universal, belonging to all people regardless of race, gender, religion, or background, and called on the room—comprised of advocates, educators, leaders, and community members—to remain engaged and proactive in responding to injustice.
Mr Gelim also spoke about the impact of authoritarianism and human rights concerns internationally. He presented a range of figures and examples as part of his address, stressing that behind every statistic is a human life, a family, and a story. The exhibition, he stated, exists to ensure that those who have been silenced are not forgotten and to inspire action grounded in empathy and accountability.
Poetry and the Power of Voice
A powerful moment followed with a spoken-word performance by Miss Aleyna Altinors, a law student at RMIT University. Her poem reflected on migration, identity, language, and belonging—capturing the tension between building a new life and the grief of cultural loss. She also encouraged learning through respectful questioning, reinforcing the importance of curiosity, humility, and solidarity across communities.
Her performance resonated strongly with the audience, setting a reflective tone that carried through the remainder of the evening.
Keynote: A Prison Story and a Call to Proactive Goodness
Mr Donikian then invited keynote speaker Professor Ismail Albayrak to the stage. Professor Albayrak, a theologian and academic with extensive research across Qur’anic studies, interfaith dialogue, and classical Islamic literature, shared a personal account of imprisonment and spoke about justice as the foundation of society.
In his remarks, Professor Albayrak reflected on how the loss of justice can lead to the erosion of humanity itself—affecting belonging, dignity, spirituality, and social cohesion. He described the broader impact of imprisonment beyond the individual, highlighting the hidden victims: families, spouses, and particularly women and children who bear long-term social, emotional, and economic consequences.
He urged attendees to move beyond awareness and toward meaningful action, noting that evil can become entrenched when good people remain passive. While acknowledging that injustices occur in many parts of the world, he called on those living in freer societies to remain conscious of suffering elsewhere and to find ways—through advocacy, public awareness, and community solidarity—to resist dehumanisation.
The keynote concluded with appreciation for the organisers and the exhibition team, and Mr Donikian invited Mr Gelim back to the stage to present a gift in recognition of Professor Albayrak’s contribution.
International Perspective: Social Genocide, Censorship, and Resilience
The evening continued with a presentation by Ms Aslihan Kas, a human rights advocate, educator, filmmaker, and Director of the Exhibition of Silent Screams. Based in New Jersey, Ms Kas has contributed to human rights reporting and has directed award-winning documentaries focused on lived experiences of oppression and displacement.
In her address, Ms Kas spoke about how state violence, censorship, and discrimination shape everyday life and disproportionately impact vulnerable groups. She discussed the global trend of shrinking civic space and pressure on democratic institutions, noting that activism and independent voices are often criminalised in authoritarian contexts.
Ms Kas shared stories featured within the exhibition—personal items representing journalists, educators, women, and families—and explained how the exhibition makes “invisible pain visible,” moving audiences from statistics to human stories. She described the role of documentary storytelling and shared insights from her film work, including narratives of women impacted by detention, mistreatment, and systemic discrimination.
Her message concluded with a reminder that these challenges are not isolated—they are global—and that every act of listening, witnessing, and advocacy contributes to justice.
Reflections: Solidarity and the Refusal to Be Silent
In the final segment of the program, invited guests offered brief reflections on the exhibition and the evening’s message of social harmony through collaboration.
Dr Omer Atilla Ergi, an academic at Charles Sturt University, spoke about the emotional impact of the exhibition and the importance of becoming a voice for those who cannot speak freely.
Dr Leighann Spencer, a lecturer in Crime, Justice and Legal Studies at La Trobe University, reflected on the significance of tangible memory objects and shared one particularly moving story: a handmade knitted toy created for a baby in prison, symbolising resilience and humanity even under brutal conditions.
Professor Marko Pavlyshyn, Emeritus Professor of Ukrainian Studies at Monash University, delivered a reflection centred on solidarity among oppressed communities. He emphasised the duty to document injustice, keep memory alive, and maintain public pressure so that silence does not spread. He also spoke of parallels across global contexts and reinforced the ethical responsibility to advocate for human rights universally.
Vote of Thanks and Closing
The evening concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Associate Professor Salih Yucel, who spoke about human dignity and the reality of torture, discrimination, and injustice faced in many places. He reminded the audience that pain and persecution do not always remain overseas and that the defence of dignity must be consistent and courageous.
Following the formal program, the event proceeded to gift presentations and volunteer acknowledgements, recognising contributors, speakers, and organisers who supported the exhibition and the evening’s success. The program closed with an invitation for representatives to join on stage for a commemorative group photo, reinforcing the spirit of unity that defined the night.
In farewell remarks, attendees were thanked for their presence and encouraged to continue supporting efforts that promote goodwill and protect the freedoms enjoyed in Australia. The evening ended with a shared hope for ongoing peace, safety, and a renewed commitment to justice—so that, collectively, the “silent screams” are heard.
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