The scene: Mauritania. The story: a brother searches for his sister. She is a slave, twice made a mother by having been raped by her master. She lives in a country where slavery has been declared illegal, over and over again. Government officials pass new laws criminalizing slavery, while simultaneously boasting that there is no such thing as slavery anymore.
Yet slavery persists: the brother’s sister lives her life, somewhere, as her master’s property. Her existence is not much different than the sheep she watches over.
The brother is accompanied in his search by members of SOS Esclaves (a Mauritanian government-sanctioned anti-slavery human rights organization), as well as a police officer empowered to enforce their nation’s latest anti-slavery laws. They find the sister, in her master’s tent. Together they take her away from her domestic bondage, but not without effort. Four decades of slavery has left its mark on her; terrified, she screams and weeps as if her delivery was actually her enslavement.
When the team arrives back in Nouakchott, the capital city, the sister is subdued. She admits, finally, that she had indeed been a slave, and her earlier denial was caused by fear for her future if she admitted as much in her master’s presence. She expresses relief that her brother has launched this effort to liberate her from her slavery.
This summarizes the gut-wrenching story chronicled in the French documentary, “Chasseurs D’Esclaves”, “Slave Hunters”, broadcast on European television in June of this year. The 45-minute French-language film is available online in three parts.
This is the evil that lurks in the shadow of the recent military coup in Mauritania, the dark secret perennially left out by media accounts on this story.
I'm going to translate substantial sections of the "Slave Hunters" documentary.
Part 1, establishing the background to the case, will be translated here; part 2, showing the confrontation at the master’s tent, will be translated here; and part 3, the rescue, translated here.
Translating the first of the three-part French documentary on slavery in Mauritania, and the efforts of one brother to free his sister from her forty year life as a chattel slave.
1:00: "When we think of slavery, there are images that impose themselves upon us. Goree, here, and its 'house of slaves'. ..."
1:40: "Slavery is not just a scourge of yesteryear. It is also a scourge today. Slavery is not just about whites against blacks. It is also an affair of arabs against blacks. Of blacks against blacks. And even arabs against whites. It is a story totally removed from all of those that you have, that **we have**, been told until now..."
2:20: [a summary of the two documentaries shown as part of the double feature on "The Taboos of Slavery". The first is the one whose translation begins here, "Slave Hunters". The second, "Forgotten Slaves" (Esclaves Oubliees), chronicles the arab slave trade. You can see that one, in French, here: part 1, part 2, part 3.]
3:00: "Slavery, a topical story, not yesterday's news. The proof: If we continued the boat trip a few kilometers more north, we'd arrive in Mauritania, the Mauritania that abolished slavery in 1981, the Mauritania where slavery persists, nevertheless."
4:00: Nouakchott, Mauritania's capital city. Bilal, an escaped slave, visits Biram, an anti-slavery activist.
Bilal: "If I've come to see you, it's because my sister is still back there. She remains a slave. She fetches the water from the well, she takes care of the herd, she does the cooking, she gets no rest. She has two daughters; one is paralyzed. Guess who their father is. Her master. A man who will never acknowledge his children. If you should see her, you would see how she suffers."
5:04: With a haunted look in his eyes, the brother says: "Listen to me: I could never be happy, if I failed to free my sister from her slavery."
6:20: We meet Aminitou, the other participant who will join the "abolitionist caravan". They are both members of SOS Esclaves, an association of 150 members who have waged a ten-year struggle against slavery in Mauritania.
6:51: Biram: "We must end the crime of slavery here. To put a stop to the existence of slavery. Separate the slaves from their masters; this must be the first phase. The second phase, we must find a way to put the criminal slave owners in prison."
7:14: Narrator: "Officially, these activists are sustained by the Mauritanian government. They are even mandated by the state's national commission on human rights. But in the field, it's another matter." Shortly after they drive out of the city, they hit the desert.
8:03: Aminitou: "There is an enormous amount of slavery in this [bush country]. Look at all these camps, there are only slaves here... because their masters, during these hot periods, the masters leave them to go to the city, they leave the slaves to watch over the place."
8:24: The rescue team arrive at a tent city serving as a refugee camp for runaway slaves. The de facto leader of the squalid camp, a former slave himself, says that their only hope for freedom was to flee their masters...which is what he decided to do, along with another one hundred slaves, over a year ago. "We are poor... but it is better to be poor, than a dependant. To be free is to be alive, and that is above any price."
10:25: Narrator: "How did these men live, when they were slaves? Chained, with iron balls attached to their legs? No. They were condemned to toil at all the hard chores, under the hot sun, in their master's place. A domestic slavery, a tradional practice in Mauritania, so traditional that it is extremely difficult to eradicate it."
11:15: The team is arrested by suspicious guards at a security checkpoint. Biram says: "They want to know if we're terrorists. Here, terrorists are militants for human rights."
12:30: During the drive to the police station, Aminitou reveals: "This shows the taboos that exist around this problem... Here, they don't want to hear about human rights."
12:59: Hidden cameras capture their interrogation by local officials: "What's this, this paper?" "An offical authorization from the National commission for human rights. A state organization." "What state?", asks the official. "The Mauritanian state!" replies the frustrated rescue team.
14:45: Later, when their status is confirmed, the police official persists in badgering the anti-slavery activists, about the presence of the documentary film crew. "We are both Mauritanian citizens, so let us resolve our problems between us. We should not draw the attention of strangers, on... on very specific realities."
15:12: Narrator: "Keeping quiet. Hiding slavery. ... Slavery still structures society. Here, men are born masters, especially the white Moors of arabic-Berber origin. Other men are born slaves, especially black Moors of negro-African origin. A millenial slavery, pre-islamic, and islamic.... a caste system that is hard to break."
0:01: Narrator: "Slavery was abolished in Mauritania three times. In 1905, during French colonization, in 1960, as part of its Independance, and in 1980, under military power; but without real application. Now once again, with the recent democritization of the country, the public has re-engaged in eradicating slavery. In 2007, they promulgate a new law: 'whomsoever reduces another into slavery will be punished with imprisonment for 5 to 10 years'. But this was written, it is said, for the sake of the international community. For to criminalize slavery, first it must be recognized. This is not the case."
1:00: Narrator: "Nouakchott, the National Assembly. For the ruling class the word 'slavery' is taboo. Surprising? Not really. The body is essentially composed of former masters.
1:15: Politician #1: "I don't think there are any slaves in Mauritania, no slavery. There are after-effects of slavery."
1:23: Reporter (off-camera): "Does slavery still exist, or not?"
Politician #2: "No, slavery does not exist..."
Reporter: "Yet, you make laws criminalizing slavery?"
Politician #2: "Yes, for those who would be tempted to fall back on old reflexes."
1:41: Politican #3: "This law was demanded by national considerations. This is a demand that some have made, I don't know why, but it was done and it was accepted, to silence their tongues. To shut up those who wish harm on Mauritania. In Mauritania there are no slaves. I defy anyone to prove to me one single case in Mauritania."
2:11: [Paraphrasing the narrator] The caravan halt for the night in an encampment. Here, out in the countryside, far from the capital, their mission is of no interest to anyone. They make light of it. Here, masters have full power over their slaves, especially the power to free them. All it takes is a enfranchisement document; one is brought to the rescue team. [3:07]
3:14: Amanitou: "This is her master's decision to give her her liberty. It's dated August 12 2000." Biram: "It is a personal paper from the master. Without any administrative witness." Aminitou: "It is the master that certifies, in his own handwriting, that he frees his slave at this date." Biram (to the former slave): "But you know that slavery has been abolished. Why do you need this paper?" Former slave: "People have told me that the law was not valid, that only my master's certificate was valid." Biram: "For you, this is a legal document?" [4:01] Former slave: "Yes, it is islamic law."
4:10: Biram: "Here, everyone sees slavery as a dogma of islamic religion. It is part of a quasi-religious submission to a master. There are slaves that say they cannot disobey their masters because if they do they will go to hell. God will punish them. They believe that in disobeying their master they are disobeying God. ... Islam is not pro-slavery, but islam is also not particularly anti-slavery. Islam does not de-legitimize slavery..."
5:00: [Paraphrasing narration] The caravan arrives at Mederdra, to see the prefect of police and obtain his authorization to rescue Bilal's sister.
5:31: A hidden camera records Biram's charges that local authorities are conniving with the master to block attempts at removing the sister. The police say they saw nothing suspicious: "who's to say that this is a case of slavery?" "Whoever says it's not a case of slavery is someone who did not want to make an honest inquiry. And is waiting to hear complaints that will never come, because of how common the crime of slavery is. The keeper of public law and order must initiate an inquiry himself, because he defends society, it is not about waiting for a person to arrive with a complaint." There are new charges that the master gives sheep as bribes to the authorities, to appease them, which is why he's not worried about the police. Eventually the prefect gives his word to resolve the matter.
8:21: Back on the road, and the rescue team arrives, finally, at the master's camp. They are now accompanied by the police officer. "Will he, this time, apply the law?", asks the narrator. The brother, Bilal, is sent to find where his sister might be. The others look around, asking for the master by name. They eventually drifting towards a shephard boy, who gives them general directions. "Has his slave come here today?", Biram asks him. "No, I haven't seen her", he replies.
10:41: Biram turns to the police official: "Commander, you see that there is a slave here!" The officer mumbles "Yes, yes, we will see", in reply, which causes Biram to laugh in spite of himself.
11:41: They find the tent they were looking for. The brother spots his sister inside the tent. From here on the police officer is decidedly uncomfortable, and tries to stall. The anti-slavery activists proceed on their mission, while he fidgets with his paperwork. "I'm not forcing anyone to leave", he says to them.
13:12: His sister makes her appearance. "I don't want to leave", she says over and over. "You're not a slave?" "No!" There's a very heated exchange between her and brother. The police officer intercedes, trying to calm everyone down. "If you're a slave you must go."
13:47: The sister: "I'm not a slave! I'm not a slave! I am free! I am a slave of allah!I am not leaving! The day has not yet arrived when I will leave with you!"
This concludes the three-part translation of the French documentary "Slave Hunters", on modern-day slavery in Mauritania. For the two preceding chapters, see part 1 here, and part 2 here.
0:01: The rescue team is trying to convince Bilal's enslaved sister that she is free to leave. The sister refuses: "Mr police officer I wish to press charges against my brother."
The brother is yelling now: "You are a slave!"
The sister answers, "Bring me witnesses."
"Since when is there a need for witnesses to prove servitude?"
0:43: The police officer takes charge. "Listen: slavery has been declared illegal. Every one is free. They want you to flourish, to have your own home, your own family. If you are in need of something, you can even call on the state to help."
1:09: The rescue team are frustrated. "She is indoctrinated. She's been worked over mentally. How do you expect her to come? She's scared. When she sees police for the first time, she's scared of them. It's perfectly normal..." Aminitou tries to get the sister into the car, to talk. She keeps protesting that she's already free, that she's not a slave.
2:24: Aminitou: "I'm here to see you as a sister, I have nothing to gain. I'm a woman like you. I am part of the community."
2:43: Brother Bilal goes to fetch his sister's two children from the tent.
3:00: Her master's wife shows up, asking about their slave. "She's not coming back. Talk to the prefect if you want to know more."
3:32: The sister is in the car, but furious. "You're saying that this woman is my mistress, but that's false." Biram confronts the mistress: "Tell her goodbye and get out of here."
4:12: The reporter is indignant with the police officer, she demands to know why he doesn't arrest the slave's mistress as a criminal. He stammers out excuses. Aminitou the anti-slavery activist is sanguine about it all: "Our problem was to free the person. The rest is the work of the administrators. ... It's their job. If they don't do it, then we'll talk to them." The sister is hysterical with emotion as the caravan drives off the master's encampment, back to the city.
5:05: Biram reflects on what just happened. "It was practically a kidnapping. Thankfully, a legal kidnapping. For a good cause. But justice does not work. Not a single slavery case has ever been followed up. Zero arrests. ..."
6:00: An interview with a former slave owner, who saw reason and freed his one slave. [I'll skip this story-within-a-story for now, and translate it later, maybe as a separate post, or as an addendum in the comments section.]
13:03: The caravan is now in Nouakchott, in Biram's home. Bilal's sister Habbi seems calmer now. The children are finally dressed, and they rest with their mother. "Do you feel free now?", the reporter asks Habbi, "Do you still feel like a slave?" Habbi shakes her head, no. "So, you were indeed a slave?" "Yes." "Why didn't you say so [back at the camp]?"
14:00: Habbi: "I was afraid of what might happen to me if I admitted that they were my masters."
Reporter: "So you're happy that [your brother] Bilal went to save you?"
Habbi: "Of course."
14:20: Her brother Bilal beams a smile that viewers who have made it this far won't soon forget.
Biram: "So, Bilal, are you happy now?"
Bilal: "Yes, really happy!"
Biram: "What are you feeling?"
Bilal: "Good. Now all I want is for her to find her place and feel good here."
Biram:"You're worried that she will return to her masters?"
Bilal: "Yes, it's true that I'm afraid that she will go back. She's stubborn. And psychologically, she's still in chains. Because of what she's been through, she's very fragile."
15:05: Biram: "Don't lose hope. Consider her in convalescence. She's sick, and so you will cure her. Be gentle with her. And guard her well."
15:25: Narrator: Habbi started a new life. Free. But she will not bring herself to bring charges against her masters. Liberty is a difficult apprenticeship. [Closing credits]
**********
One slave in Mauritania is now free... how many more remain, still in bondage? And what will become of them?
That's the question I have for General Mohamed ould Abdel Aziz, leader of the military coup in Mauritania.
The islamic republic of Mauritania is infamous for continuing to practice chattel slavery long after the rest of the world made itself see the light and abandon this evil practice.
Last year we blogged on the first free presidential election ever to take place in this beleaguered west African nation. There was hope in the air that anti-slavery candidate SidiOuldCheikhAbdallahi's victory would lead, at long last, to an end to the country's cultural acceptance of slavery. For centuries white Moors have kept black slaves, generations being born into lives of bonded servitude, so that today, in our lifetime, there remain an estimated 600,000 human beings enslaved in Mauritania... approximately 20% of the country's entire population.
This morning comes news of a military coup in Mauritania. President Abdallahi is being held captive and the state-run radio and television stations have been silenced. The big question is: why?
Mauritania has been facing a political crisis and on Monday 48 MPs walked out on the ruling party less than two weeks after a vote of no confidence in the government prompted a cabinet reshuffle. Renegade lawmakers criticised Abdallahi's exercise of "personal power", adding that he had "disappointed the hopes of Mauritanians," a spokesman for the group said on Monday. The coup was apparently triggered when Abdallahi moved to replace generals accused of stirring up the political crisis. ... Recently, [the Mauritanian Parliament] tried to call a special session of parliament to create a commission to investigate the country's response to the rising cost of living, and also the financing of a foundation run by the president's wife.
Less well-publicized was the government's "snail-paced response" to the terrorist attack. This contributed to President Abdallahi's decision to appoint a new Prime Minister, YahyaOuld Ahmed El Waghef. But a new crisis erupted around the new government when the largest opposition party in Parliament claimed that "more than 90 percent of petroleum revenues are being spent without leading to any positive effect on the livelihood of Mauritanian citizens."
What will happen now to Mauritania's latest attempt at ending their deep-rooted tradition of slavery? How can there be such immense social change when the foundations of the nation remain as unstable as the shifting sand dunes so common to that region? How deep can their society's commitment be to ending bondage, when the Teacher whose advice they follow himself owned slaves?
In the interests, perhaps, of simplifying a complicated story, Mauritania's lingering chains to slavery seem left behind in today's news coverage of that nation's military coup. While regrettable, it's understandable that in the rush to spread breaking news the media accounts leave out the sad truth that there still exist mothers giving birth to new-born babes who are owned, like farm animals, by other human beings... that in at least one part of the world, the breath of new life continues to be imprisoned by old bonds forged from old ideas, reminding us of the bitter truth that some things just never change: news, like history, reveals that human existence tends to consist of misery shackled to cruelty.
The story also reminds us how revolutionary it is to be an optimist; to observe the common suffering and yet still choose to live in hope that each person may someday recognize the bonds that we share in common, still believing we may yet learn to look beyond the physical shells toiling our earth and finally see the possible souls resting within. For no matter how different we may be on the outside, there will always be some one thing we shall hold in common, on the inside, something so hard to imagine that we can spend our life learning to see it.
At least, that's what our Teacher tried to teach us to believe...
