“Come Back Safe” Sheds Light on Palestinian Workers’ Deaths

The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) hosted a photography exhibition by Palestinian photographer Mohamed Badarneh, to shed light on the harsh deaths of Palestinian workers employed inside Israel and illegal Israeli settlements.

Their names, cities and circumstances of death were written in a thick black marker on the many glass windows of the exhibition. On white walls, denim and cotton pants worn by Palestinian workers were hanged close to photos showing men from all ages, giving a face to a group not protected by any government or law.

In 2013, Badarneh started working on a photography project to tackle an unfortunate yet growing phenomenon overshadowed by the ongoing turmoil in the region in general, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel in particular.

Nearly 60 Palestinian workers from the West Bank and Israel die annually on the job, usually in construction, due to negligence and unsafe working conditions. Badarneh said he will continue to highlight the plight of Palestinian workers as long as Israel continues to neglect and forgo punishing individuals complicit in workers’ death.

The touring exhibition, which carries the names of the workers who died in work-related accidents, was opened in Berlin early this week. The launching of the exhibition  coincided with the release of ECCHR’s annual report.

Badarneh believes the importance of the project stems from the fact that it is the first of its kind to touch the lives of Palestinian workers. He said, "This project is not just about Palestinian workers, but all workers in general. “What happens to the workers in Palestine is happening all over the world."

Through his photography work, Badarneh retraces the tales of Palestinian workers and their concerns. He explains, "Myself and those who appear in these photos, share the process of constructing a visual project in a studio shaped from the political and social reality.”

The project aims to give space to the workers to talk about themselves and reflect on their realities, which are identified by the loss of land. Many of these workers are previous owners of land which was occupied by Israel, explained Badarneh.

The project reveals the hard choices Palestinian workers have to make; build the settlements of the occupation or die from hunger. “Many of the workers were once the owners of the land”.

With photos depicting men from all ages and backgrounds, Badarneh’s project narrates the hopes and dreams of those workers, which can be sensed through their eyes and smiles.

Wolfgang Kaleck, founder and director of ECCHR said “It is not a coincidence that ECCHR supported such exhibition because it sends a clear message against the crimes committed against workers, especially when we discuss negligence and the causes for deaths.”

Source: WAFA