MAY 11, 12, 18, 19 & 25, 2016 from 3PM to 4:45 PM
After the success of the drama therapy initiative with prisoners in both Roumieh and Baabda prisons for men and women respectively, and the play “12 Angry Lebanese”, presented by inmates from Roumieh Prison in 2009, and the play “Scheherazade in Baabda” presented by women inmates from Baabda Prison in 2012, and the documentaries about both projects, that drew the attention of both official authorities and the civil society to the necessity of implementing some laws, Zeina Daccache began preparing for the new play “Johar…Up in the air” with inmates from Roumieh Prison since June 2016.
This play is in the framework of The Untold Story of Forgotten Behind Bars, a project implemented by Catharsis, funded by the European Union and in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior & Municipalities and the Ministry of Justice. This project objective revolves around the improvement of Mental Health in Lebanese prisons and a Suitable Legislation for Mentally ill Inmates and Inmates Sentenced to Life.
The project includes 4 main outputs: a study investigating the prevalence of severe mental illness among an inmate population in Lebanon (study published in 2015 where findings were consistent with previous research indicating a higher prevalence rate for mental illness in prisons compared to the general population, for more info please visit www.catharsislcdt.org), the production of the theatre play “Johar…Up in the air” interpreted by inmates from Roumieh Prison (some of them suffering from mental illness), a legal research including a comparative law study and ultimately a draft law based on the findings of both previous outputs.
“Johar…Up in the air” sheds the light on inmates suffering from a mental illness and inmates sentenced to life, both has a common fate: staying in prison forever and ever. Indeed, the Lebanese penal code states that “insane” prisoners should be incarcerated in a special psychiatry unit until the appointed tribunal decides to end such incarceration upon evidence of “cured from insanity”. However, no accurate definition is provided as to what insanity entails and mental illness is usually managed not “cured”. And how is it possible in the 21st century, to use the word “insane”?
From these inmates’ stories (some suffer from mental illnesses and others are sentenced to life), the new play has emerged. The inmates will tell the stories of the forgotten, through monologues and short scenes. As one of the inmates says in one scene: “my mental illness and the prison are a double punishment”.
Hopefully, this new project will lead to a policy change just like Catharsis previous production 12 Angry Lebanese did, with the early release law 463/2002 (the law of the reduction of sentences that was issued in 2002 but never implemented and that the inmates claimed for loudly in 12 Angry Lebanese, and in 2009 it started being implemented)
5 performances will be held throughout May 2016 under the High Patronage of His Excellency Minister of Interior and Municipalities Nohad Machnouk inside Roumieh prison, where a venue has been specially built for the event. (MAY 11, 12, 18, 19 & 25, 2016). Through the play, the inmates will have a new platform for expression, in light of the multiple developments within the Lebanese prisons. The inmates will use this opportunity to set a bridge that will make their voices heard by the Lebanese civil society in a constructive and artistic way.