{"id":28135,"date":"2025-05-01T04:41:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T04:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/?p=28135"},"modified":"2025-05-01T04:41:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T04:41:59","slug":"we-stand-for-life-art-dignity-and-peace-amb-zaid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/?p=28135","title":{"rendered":"We stand for life, art, dignity and peace, Amb Zaid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Palestinian Ambassador Opens \u201cArt for Life \u2013 Art for Gaza\u201d Artists Camp Amid Fragile Geopolitics<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Islamabad :\u00a0 A rare moment of art-led diplomacy unfolded at the Silk Road Culture Centre as the week-long humanitarian Artists Camp, Art for Life \u2013 Art for Gaza, opened with solemn grace and symbolic resonance.
The Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Zuhair Zaid, and his Deputy Ambassador graced the opening ceremony, with ex-Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed as Chief Guest. Deputy Ambassador of Iran with his Cultural Attach\u00e9 was also in attendance along with a large number of artists, writers, musicians, painters and gentry, in what many saw as a quiet reaffirmation of cultural solidarity amidst stormy international relations.
The Camp, themed \u201cNakba Remain\u201d, is dedicated to the artistic heritage and spiritual resilience of Gaza\u2019s people. Hosted by SilkRoad Culture Centre and led by veteran artist and cultural visionary Jamal Shah, the Camp brings together over 30 multidisciplinary artists and global thought leaders over the course of this 8-day Artists Camp.
The ceremony began with the national anthems of Pakistan and Palestine, followed by an emotionally charged welcome by Mr. Shah. A series of video messages from international scholars paid tribute to the unifying power of art in times of crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


Interacting with media, Ambassador Zaid said, \u201cWhile our official ties remain governed by international obligations, this Camp is a humanitarian expression \u2014 it transcends politics. The people of Palestine do not stand for violence; we stand for life, art, dignity and peace. Let art do what diplomacy cannot \u2014 open hearts.\u201d
Participating artists also offered powerful reflections:
Arieb Azhar, musician, revealed: \u201cI\u2019m composing melodies rooted in Sufi and Palestinian folklore. Music binds souls, and I hope mine echoes the unheard cries of Gaza\u2019s children.\u201d
Qasim Khan, a renowned theatre artist and stand-up comedian, declared: \u201cMy workshop will stage movement-based narratives on memory and displacement \u2014 stories of Gazan mothers told through silent theatre.\u201d
A participating painter working with sand and glass will be utilizing these fragile materials to mirror Gaza\u2019s beauty and volatility. \u201cEvery stroke speaks of survival.\u201d, she said. Another participating poet intends to write a daily haiku for Gaza. \u201cPoetry must condense agony into empathy. If one verse touches one conscience, it is enough\u201d, says he\/
Artworks will be curated into a public exhibition and charity auction. Proceeds will go toward aid for Gaza\u2019s children.
The Camp continues until May 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Digital Post Format (Website Blog\/Newsroom Style):<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    [EVENT RECAP] Day 1: \u201cArt for Life \u2013 Art for Gaza\u201d Camp Opens.
    Cautious Yet Clear: A Diplomatic Balancing Act with Ambassador of Palestine as Chief Guest
    April 30, 2025 | Silk Road Culture Centre, Islamabad
    Today marked a powerful beginning to the Artists Camp \u201cArt for Life \u2013 Art for Gaza\u201d, under the theme \u201cNakba Remain\u201d, with the arrival of Dr. Zuhair Zaid, the Ambassador of Palestine, who led the opening ceremony along with his Deputy Ambassador, with ex-Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed as the Chief Guest, and Deputy Ambassador of Iran with his Cultural Attach\u00e9 in attendance.
    The day unfolded with emotional renditions of the national anthems of Pakistan and Palestine, a compelling welcome address by SRCC Chairman Jamal Shah, and thought-provoking video messages from international allies of cultural peace.
    Key Moment: Media Interaction with Ambassador Zaid
    \u201cThis is a cultural assembly, not a political one,\u201d Dr. Zaid told journalists. \u201cWe are here to preserve the dignity and spirit of Gaza\u2019s people \u2014 through colors, rhythm, silence, and soul. We trust that humanity will resonate beyond headlines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Artist Spotlights:
    Arieb Azhar: Creating collaborative music sessions blending Palestinian resistance poetry with South Asian mysticism.
    Qasim Khan: Leading theatrical improvisation sessions on loss and inherited trauma.
    Sajjal Kiyani: Launching a live art installation using deconstructed maps and family heirlooms of displaced Palestinians.
    Poet Haris Khalique: Sharing poetry inspired by exile, faith, and memory \u2014 \u201cInk instead of ashes,\u201d she says.
    Up Next:
    Interactive workshops
    Open mic sessions
    Live-streamed international artist dialogues
    Join the Conversation: #ArtForGaza #NakbaRemain #ArtForLife<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Social Media Story Format (Instagram\/Facebook Story Carousel \u2013 Text Format):
      Voices of Artistic Resistance
      Workshops | Art Exhibition | Interactive Installations
      Public Festival & Auction for Gaza\u2019s Children<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      ArtForGaza #PeaceThroughArt<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Palestinian Ambassador Opens \u201cArt for Life \u2013 Art for Gaza\u201d Artists Camp Amid Fragile Geopolitics Islamabad :\u00a0 A rare moment of art-led diplomacy unfolded at the Silk Road Culture Centre… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":28136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[515,2088],"class_list":["post-28135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-embassy-of-palestine-pakistan","tag-silk-road-culture-centre-pakistan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28135"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28135\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28138,"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28135\/revisions\/28138"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theasiantelegraph.global\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}