Sabri Al Qurashi
Introduction and Interview

Born in Saudi Arabia to Yemeni parents, Sabri Al-Qurashi was on a business trip to Pakistan
when the attacks of 9/11 took place, and the borders were closed.
Arrested by Pakistani security forces, he was turned over to the US military, which transported him first to Afghanistan and then to the US detention centre at Guantánamo Bay.

He was held, without charge, from 2002-2014, when he was transferred to Kazakhstan.

After learning to paint whilst in detention at Guantánamo, Sabri has continued to create artwork since, and his work has been shown to critical acclaim in numerous international exhibitions.

He presented his first solo exhibition - Art.Liberation - in January 2025 in Paris, although sadly,
he was unable to attend in person due to restrictions on his movements in Kazakhstan.

Instead, he recorded an interview for the exhibition, which you can watch below,
as well as viewing some images from the day.

Sabri has recently been deported from Kazakhstan to Syria, a country where
he has no support networks. He needs our help.

Please do consider supporting Sabri as he faces these new challenges after more than
20 years of turmoil, which began with his arrest and handing over to the US authorities.

If you can help in any way, please visit chuffed.org now to donate.
About Sabri Al-Qurashi today
Despite being Sabri's first solo exhibition in Paris - Art.Liberation - he was unable to attend this important milestone in his life, because he could not get a visa, as he did not have leave to return to Kazakhstan, despite living there for over a decade, being of good character, and being in need of asylum as a survivor of torture.

After a change in the domestic and US governments, Sabri was recently coerced into withdrawing his appeal to the decision denying him asylum.

Sabri has now been deported to Syria, a country where he does not have any support, and he is in need of our help.

Please visit chuffed.org today if you feel you can help in any way.
Interview with Sabri Al-Qurashi
The following interview was recorded and shown
as part of his art exhibition in January 2025.
Some Photographs from Exhibition
Art. Liberation.
The exhibition was hosted jointly by Art Thinking Network and the newly-formed Institute for the Public Interest (IPI) and was held at the Villa Belleville art center, 23 rue Ramponeau Paris.

Art. Liberation. was designed to draw the viewer into the grotesque brutality
of the US base at Guantánamo Bay, the natural majesty of faraway lands such as
Yemen & Kazakhstan, and the grace & liberating power of art & imagination.

Sabri invites us all to free ourselves and rediscover peace & humanity.

This exhibition presented the work of Sabri Al-Qurashi from his times in Guantánamo to recent paintings made in Kazakhstan, and included a video interview made especially for the exhibition.
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