In partnership with the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights and the Rosa Luxembourg Foundation, photographer Aymen Omrani met with twenty women from across Tunisia who have been waiting for years to find out whether their sons, grandsons or
husbands died trying to reach the other side or whether they managed to get through. What has become of these men?
This action, launched by the FTDES, was carried out in the framework of the Boats4People coalition, which brings together European and African associations that defend the rights of migrants at sea and advocate for freedom of movement for all.
Inkyfada joined this initiative by sharing twelve of the sixty photos included in the exhibition which took place in June 2015 in support of these women’s efforts to get answers from the authorities.
Om el Khir Ouirtatani is a mother of three children, including Ritej, the youngest of her children, born a few months after the departure of his father, Nabil Ghuizaoui, on March 29, 2011. Co-founder of the association "Earth for All," Om el Khir works as a teacher for the children of the El Nour town and fights every day to provide for her family and keep the memory of her husband alive. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Om el Khir Ouirtatani, her husband's photo, and her daughter's diploma. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Rebeh Bouthouri is a stay-at-home mother of six children, including Ibrahim Bouthouri, who was 19 years old when he left Tunisia on March 29, 2011. Ibrahim's mother, who underwent back surgery, has been suffering from psychological problems since his disappearance. In their daily struggle to survive, the family receives a monthly allowance of 100 dinars. The father makes a living by collecting and recycling plastic bottles. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Rebeh Bouthouri in her son's bedroom. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Mbarka Rhimi is the mother of Arbi Ferchichi, 16 years old when he left Tunisia on March 29, 2011 from the Sfaxian banks of Sidi Mansour. His mother’s anguish is accentuated by her other 15-year-old son’s desire to leave for Italy. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Mbarka Rhimi has kept the medals from the sports competitions of her son, Arbi Ferchichi. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Fathi Hadagi wanted to join his brother who moved to Italy. His brother's stable situation there made him attempt the crossing, despite the fact that he had a job in the municipality of Hammam Lif. Fathi set sail, leaving his mother Saghira el Bkakri behind. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
When this photo was taken, Latifa Chouikh was still looking for her son, Sabri Souli, who disappeared on March 29, 2011. She spends her days taking care of her eldest daughter at her home in Hammam Lif. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Aziza Bouthouri has led a difficult life; her face doesn’t hide this truth. Since the departure of her son, Maher Bouthouri, on March 29, 2011, Aziza can no longer sleep. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
After her son's wife cut ties with her, Sahra Bel Rais, aged 62, started to build a modest shelter in the absence of her husband who was hospitalized in the Bizerte hospital following a heart attack caused by the departure of their son Aymen Drihmi. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Sahra Bel Rais makes a living by collecting plastic bottles. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
Fajera lives with her husband and son in the Zayatine district of Jbel Lahmar, a suburb of Tunis. Two of their children have emigrated and remain in Italy, while she continues to search for her son Ali Ayari, who left the country on March 29, 2011 at the age of 24 and has been missing ever since. Image credit: Aymen Omrani.
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