Voices from Gaza: An evening of films, solidarity and action

Executive team of the Islamic Relief Canada New Brunswick and volunteers. (Suzanne Shah/AQ)

On Sept. 29, the scent of Arabic coffee mingled with the hum of conversation as people filled the auditorium in Richard J. Currie Center ready to experience an evening of films, speeches and solidarity, hosted by Islamic Relief Canada New Brunswick (IRC).  

Guests arrived dressed in Palestinian colours and henna tattoos were being offered at the door of the auditorium.

“Stories Straight from Gaza to Fredericton”  featured two powerful documentaries—Bisan and Ahmad Alive—which brought the realities of Gaza onto the big screen. 

“Everyone’s getting used to seeing [the conflict] on their screens,” said Samy Ahmed, outreach coordinator for IRC New Brunswick. “But [when] you see it like on a big screen and can actually speak to people about it openly… it actually pushes people to want to think about it more and to actually reinvigorate.”

For the IRC, this was more than a film night. It was their first fundraiser as a newly formed branch and it exceeded expectations. 

“Initially I think our biggest concern was how many people would show up,” said team lead Minahil Mujahid. “Canadians and people of different backgrounds, different cultures actually showed up, so it’s not just a Muslim issue, it’s a humanitarian one … the people who supported, they truly show[ed] that they’re on the right side of history.”

The films highlighted two young Palestinian voices whose raw honesty has captured international attention. 

Journalist Bisan Owda’s daily refrain,“It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m still alive,” has echoed across the internet, while Ahmad shared a more intimate view of everyday life in war.

“She’s very open, her emotions, very easy to connect with her,” said Ahmed. “They just happen to already have everyone’s attention …  [Ahmad] also showed what it was like for every Palestinian.”

Ahmed Elemam, a student at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), said he was especially shaken by the second documentary. 

“When Ahmad was showing the videos of the children and how they’re affected by their moms and their houses and everything is broken, and how life was before and how it is right now and what they’re dealing,” he said.

Elemam left the screening with a sense of responsibility and added,  “Like they mentioned in the last few slides, boycotting and supporting Palestinian businesses.”

The night also featured speeches that urged students and community members not just to watch, but to act.

“Your presence matters. It shows that your heart is still awake and that you refuse to be silent in the face of injustice,” said Laila Soliman, founder of the UNB Palestine Solidarity club. 

“We boycott because we refuse to be part of this genocide,” she said. “What we do is never useless … They are seeds. Seeds take time to grow, but they only grow if they are planted.”

Students who attended the event at John Meagher Auditorium, Richard J. Currie Center. (Suzanne Shah/AQ)

For Fredericton’s small but growing Muslim community, the turnout was heartening. 

“Shockingly, [the response was] very positive,” said Ahmed. “Very pleasantly surprised … I even saw professors [have] come.”

UNB professor Cathy Holtmann agreed that the event filled an important role. 

“I was super pleased to see that there is a local chapter of Islamic Relief here in Fredericton ... I think it’s important to have a presence here to support causes that Muslim families, Muslim students find important,” she said. “The more we have these personal kinds of stories, the more people will be moved to take action.”

By the end of the evening, IRC Fredericton had raised approximately $1,300—surpassing their target and sending funds directly to humanitarian aid projects. 

For many, the lasting impact was not in the numbers but in the connections forged and the voices amplified.