I was born in 1962 in a village on the Euphrates River near Najaf in Iraq. In 1985, I graduated with a degree in applied theatre studies from the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad. Shortly after completing my studies I went into exile in northern Iraq: I was waiting for political change to go back home. After crossing the border from Iraq to Iran, I was arrested, imprisoned and transferred to a detention centre. I remained there for seven weeks before I was transferred to another detention centre in Tehran. I was there for 11 months.
In the detention centre there was the constant threat of being deported back to Iraq. I got a false passport and was travelling to Syria when I was arrested again for having false papers.
I escaped to the Pakistan-Iran border; I introduced myself to UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) as an Iraqi refugee. I spent - or wasted - seven years of my life waiting for an answer from the UNHCR regarding my application for resettlement.
I was finally accepted as a refugee by Australia. In 1997, I arrived in Perth. In 2001, I became an Australian citizen. In 2003, I finished my Master of Creative Arts at Newcastle University.
In 2004, I want back to see my homeland for the first time after 17 to 18 years in exile, afterwards returning to Australia.
- Niz Jabour
Taken from PROOF exhibition 2004
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
Previously on display
13 February 2005
ACMI Screen Gallery
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
B2000101
Sound/audio
Audio Format/Stereo
Colour
Colour
Holdings
Digital Betacam; Sub-master
Digital Betacam; Master
VHS [PAL]; Reference - timecoded
DVD [PAL]; Exhibition Copy