Melbourne – Serenity Community Centre (10 February 2026)
The internationally traveling human rights initiative Silent Screams Exhibition arrived in Australia in February 2026, meeting visitors in two consecutive programs in Melbourne and Sydney.
The exhibition’s 40th stop was held on February 10 at the Serenity Community Centre in Melbourne, hosted by Advocates for Dignity (AFD) and Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST).
The Melbourne program was moderated by veteran broadcaster George Donikian, SBS’s first chief news anchor, who described the exhibition as “bringing silenced cries into public memory” and emphasized that human rights are a responsibility transcending national borders.
AFD General Director Abdul Celil Gelim underlined that human rights are not privileges but inherent values, warning that when the rule of law erodes, ordinary people bear the heaviest cost.
Theologian Prof. İsmail Albayrak, who spent nearly 20 months in prison, approached justice from a theological perspective, recalling the classical maxim “The religion of the state is justice,” and noting that arbitrariness becomes normalized when justice disappears.
Academics and civil society representatives also contributed:
- Dr. Leighann Spencer (La Trobe University) noted that encountering personal artifacts had a deeper emotional impact than years of academic research.
- Prof. Marko Pavlyshyn (Monash University, Emeritus) highlighted parallels between experiences of repression across different geographies.
- Dr. Ömer Atilla Ergi (Charles Sturt University) commemorated those who died in prison and families who lost their lives crossing the Meriç River, stating that peace is impossible without justice.
- RMIT law student Aleyna Altınörs delivered a spoken-word performance exploring migration, identity, and belonging.
- Assoc. Prof. Salih Yücel concluded by stressing that human dignity is a universal value independent of faith or identity.
The 41st program took place on February 12 at Sydney’s Customs House, organized by AFD in cooperation with Galaxy Foundation and AST.
AFD President Mehmet Saral stated that the exhibition is intended not only to remember the past but also to stand in solidarity with victims:
“Every human rights violation is a human story.”
Community leader Jim Mein warned that multicultural societies must safeguard their commitment to coexistence amid rising authoritarian tendencies.
Prof. Clive Pearson emphasized the long-term significance of bringing the exhibition to Australia as a platform for intercultural dialogue.
Documentary Screening: Metamorphosis – Women’s Struggle for Freedom in Turkey
In both cities, audiences viewed the award-winning documentary Metamorphosis: Women’s Struggle for Freedom in Turkey, which complemented the exhibition’s narrative by focusing on women’s lived experiences under political pressure.
Exhibition Coordinator and film director Aslıhan Kas explained that state repression reshapes not only political life but also individuals’ inner worlds and daily existence.
She added that a new documentary project featuring testimonies of severely ill prisoners is nearing completion.
Co-founder and installation coordinator Myra Karaca drew attention to the psychological dimension of rights violations, noting that repression is experienced not merely through statistics but within human consciousness.
More than 30 personal belongings symbolizing human rights abuses were transported across continents as part of the Australian programs.
Rather than being tied to a permanent venue, the exhibition is rebuilt in each city, functioning as a mobile, international act of remembrance.
Among the items displayed were:
- A favorite tie belonging to slain Diyarbakır Bar Association President Tahir Elçi
- A radio journalist Mehmet Baransu was allowed to use for only one week in prison
- A cardigan worn during prayer by Sümeyra Gelir, who died at age 15 while caring for siblings after their mother’s arrest
- The judicial robe of dismissed judge Ayşegül Göç Dilber
- Baby bottles and pacifiers given to an infant born in prison and deprived of maternal care in intensive care
Each object represented an individual life story, transforming abstract rights discourse into tangible human experience.
Youth Participation and Collective Memory
Across both events, 60 university students volunteered in organizing and facilitating the programs, reflecting strong youth engagement in human rights advocacy.
The events concluded with plaque presentations and volunteer certificates, reinforcing the exhibition’s collaborative spirit.
A Continuing Global Journey
With its 40th and 41st programs in Melbourne and Sydney, the Silent Screams Exhibition added a new chapter to its global journey—reaffirming its central message in every city it visits:
Justice, memory, and human dignity must not be forgotten.
