
Help me relocate, start a new stable life in a new country
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My name is Mohamed Elshahed, I am a writer, curator and historian of architecture and material culture. Since 2017 I have been at the center of a series of dangerous, criminal and manipulative interventions by a wealthy individual from a ruling family in a Gulf country which have cost me my stability, my security, and my ability to continue minding my own business to produce work that is the fruit of my long journey as a working class immigrant who persisted to create a better life for myself independently. The individual in question did not leave a stone unturned in my life, total destruction, this has affected my family, my body, my home and my work. Without any provocation from my side, I was targeted simply for who I am, a free-thinking, independent, outspoken, honest and self-respecting individual content with myself and my circumstances. The targeting has cost me my ability to return home in Cairo Egypt since January of 2020, having to survive the difficulties and uncertainties that came with the Pandemic when work was limited (and therefore income) and to come to terms with the seriousness of the vicious, criminal and inhumane interventions of this individual. In the end I have lost much of my material possessions, my rental home, my family (both parents died in unusual circumstances in 2018) and my ability to proceed with my work. My first book was published in March 2020 and a translation of my doctoral dissertation followed as a book in 2021, both best sellers. Despite my limited material means I have produced internationally recognized and awarded work as a writer and curator. Despite this, my inability to return home where I lived and worked in Cairo meant that I have not been able to celebrate the fruits of my past labour nor carryon with new work. These malicious and unforgivable interventions have completely derailed me and my ability to produce new work. One of the key reasons for delay besides general instability of a home situation is the fact that I have not seen my books and papers, collected over the previous decade, which I need to carryout my work as a writer. After years of delay these items have been shipped but I was surprised with thousands of dollars in port and customs fees simply to release my books and things. I ask you to help me put an end to this cycle of abuse and survival to get settled in a new home with all the expenses that come with this and to help me pay for the shipping and fees associated with being reunited with my library. This is an urgent situation as the fees must be paid within a small window of time, I have less than a month to save my things from being forever lost. Once my things are released they need a home to go to and I appreciate your help to facilitate this task and its associated costs. This relentless attack on my existence has been going on since 2017, we are now in 2024, it is time for this to end and I need your help to do this. Thank you.
Organizer

Mohamed Elshahed
Organizer
Landing, NJ