Author: Parma Abbas

With each passing day the amount of intolerance and therefore, discrimination is seen to be exponentially increasing in the world. We no longer associate ourselves to certain groups in order to understand ourselves but rather to separate ourselves from others so as to create hierarchies and be able to discriminate. This creates social grouping and produces dynamics of its own wherein everything from race to gender is politicized and things such as religion are weaponized.

“The Hagia Sophia, Ayasofya in Turkish, which is set against the beautiful pink skies of Istanbul was originally built as a Christian Basilica over 1,500 years ago and during this time it has transformed with the dynamic Turkish culture. Designed by Isidoros (Milet), Anthemios (Tralles) and Isidore the Younger (the nephew of Isidoros), it is now a global structure with its significance ranging from matters of politics and religion to those concerning art history and architecture.

“She cannot sleep at night, because her nerve endings have got inflamed….she suffers great pain. I want my daughter to sing folk songs again. I do not want my child to die. Don’t you want to see these bright people on the stage? So, please, everyone who hears my words: Please do something, but quickly.” said Aygul Bilgi who was the mother of Helin Bolek who is a Turkish singer who passed away after going on a 288 day long hunger strike.

Article: “Racism is a very prevalent issue in our world and almost every body faces it in their day to day lives to varying degrees. Some of us are subjected to racism in the work place which can be something as simple as a promotion getting delayed while others can end up losing their life on the basis of external differences.