Our Clinic hosted a film screening of the 2023 documentary All Static and Noise at the Browning Cinema in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. The event was co-sponsored by the Democracy Initiative and the Debartolo Performing Arts Center, and offered an opportunity to engage the wider Notre Dame community in conversation about the dramatic ongoing human rights violations faced by the Uyghur people in China.
Directed by David Novack, All Static and Noise chronicles the harrowing experiences of Uyghur individuals detained in China’s so-called “re-education” camps. Produced and written by Janice Englehart '86, with Jewher Ilham serving as associate producer, the film weaves together firsthand accounts of survivors and their families to expose the systemic oppression faced by this ethnic and religious minority, including restrictions on religious practice, surveillance, arbitrary detention, and forced separation from loved ones. The documentary also highlights the moral courage of those willing to speak out in the face of widespread persecution. By bringing these stories to an international audience, the film seeks to raise awareness and inspire advocacy for the protection of human rights and religious freedom.
“All Static and Noise examines the genocide of the Uyghur people in China and the continuing transnational repression they experience in exile. Through its nuanced portrayal of resilience and hope, the film restores agency and dignity to its subjects, transforming victims into active narrators of their own experiences.” said Victoria Tin-bor Hui, associate professor of political science, who helped organize the film screening. “It powerfully educates audiences on the gravity of the Uyghur people’s suffering, eliciting an informed ethical and political response."
Following the screening, attendees participated in a Q&A session with Jewher Ilham, a Uyghur advocate, author, and activist. Ilham shared her personal story, including her experience of being separated from her father at Beijing airport as he was detained, and her ongoing efforts to bring international attention to the plight of the Uyghur people. Her reflections provided attendees with a poignant, firsthand perspective on the consequences of religious and ethnic persecution, as well as the resilience of those who continue to fight for justice. Her experiences and perspectives led her to making this film.
“I knew that a documentary film would have the power to break through what I saw as a world too busy and too preoccupied with other concerns to pay attention to what was happening to a minority group whose name they had a hard time pronouncing,” said Ilham.
John Meiser, associate clinical professor and director of the Lindsay and Matt Moroun Religious Liberty Clinic emphasized the importance of connecting legal education with real human needs. “It is unthinkable what is happening to the Uyghur people in China,” Meiser said. “It’s easy to look at a crisis of that scale and think, well what can I do about that? In our clinic, we help our students develop the legal skills—but also the compassion and awareness—to work in their own legal careers toward combatting atrocities like these, even one little step at a time.”
Attendees left the screening with a deeper appreciation for the courage of Uyghur individuals and a renewed commitment to advocating for justice, both locally and internationally. “Notre Dame is a special place for me, as a graduate of the University. My social conscience was nurtured there. I imagine college students are eager to learn how to make positive contributions in their own communities and the world,” said Englehart. “My hope is that audiences will walk away with a better understanding of who the Uyghur people are and how their own actions (consumption, voting, policy preferences) can impact the lives of persecuted people all over the world.”
The Religious Liberty Clinic at Notre Dame Law School continues to offer opportunities for students and the community to explore pressing religious freedom issues through education, advocacy, and public engagement. Screening All Static and Noise represents one of many efforts to foster awareness and dialogue on critical human rights and religious liberty challenges.