My 105 Days in Taliban Prison -- and a Call to Aid Afghanistan | Safi Rauf | TED

譯者: Ryan Tseng 審譯者: Shelley Tsang 曾雯海

It's 8:15pm in Afghanistan right now.

阿富汗現在是晚間8:15分。

And at this time, 10 days ago,

而在十天前的這個時候，

I was sitting

我正坐在一個八乘八英尺大的監牢中， 位於喀布爾最高安全等級監獄的地下室裡，

in an eight-foot-by-eight-foot cell

in the basement

of a maximum-security prison in Kabul,

我被塔利班俘虜了。

where I was being held captive by the Taliban.

I'd been in that cell for 104 days,

我在那個監牢裡待了104天， 但我確算是幸運的。

and yet, I was one of the lucky ones.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

但我已經超前太多了。

Let me go back to the beginning.

讓我從頭開始講起吧。

This is me.

這是我。

I'm five years old and living in an Afghan refugee camp

這時我五歲，並且居住在位於 白沙瓦，巴基斯坦的阿富汗難民營中。

in Peshawar, Pakistan.

You can see the two patches on my UNHCR-donated jeans.

在我穿著由UNHCR捐贈的牛仔褲上， 你可以看到兩個刺繡布貼。

One patch is an American flag and the other is the Statue of Liberty,

一個布貼是美國國旗， 另一個則是自由女神，

the quintessential beacons of the American dream I so badly wanted.

這些不朽的經典指標， 均代表者我所嚮往的『美國夢』。

But as a refugee, I didn't have a state to call home.

但身為一個難民， 我並沒有一個能夠稱為家的國家。

And not having a state, I didn't have rights.

而正因為沒有國家，我沒有任何權利。

And not having rights, I didn't have a voice.

而因為沒有權利，我沒有一個聲音。

I needed someone to advocate for me.

我需要能夠為我發聲的人。

And I was fortunate to have two advocates.

而我很幸運的有兩個人願意為我發聲。

My parents, who had emigrated to the US four years ahead of me,

我的父母，早我四年移民到美國，

fought tirelessly to get me to America for those four years.

在那四年中，他們為我奮力爭取 使我能夠來到美國。

They gave me a voice.

他們給了我一個聲音。

They gave me the American dream.

他們給了我「美國夢」。

And my parents' advocacy allowed me to join them,

而因為我父母的聲援，使我得以跟他們一樣，

to emigrate to Omaha, Nebraska,

移民到奧馬哈，内布拉斯加州，

to go to high school in the states

得以在美國上高中，

to serve in the military,

得以在軍隊中服役，

to graduate as a Tillman Scholar from Georgetown University,

得以Tillman Scholar的身份 從喬治城大學畢業，

to get accepted into medical school.

並得以錄取進入醫學院就讀。

I became the American dream.

我成為了「美國夢」。

(Cheers and applause)

（歡呼聲及掌聲）

And in my dream, everything came full circle.

而在我的夢中， 一切都繞回了最初的原點。

This past summer, I deferred one dream for another

在過去的這個夏季中， 我為了一個夢想而暫緩了另一個，

when I put medical school on hold,

我將醫學院暫緩， 並創立了Human First Coalition,

founded Human First Coalition,

an organization dedicated to aiding Afghans in need.

一個致力於幫助陷入困境中的 阿富汗人民的組織。

Having spent the first 17 years of my life stateless,

在無國籍下度過我人生的前17年後， 我赫然發現我正在扮演

I rather abruptly found myself

in the role of the humanitarian aid worker who had shaped so much of my life.

一個深切影響我人生的角色， 人道救援的工作人員。

I became that advocate and that voice for others.

我成為了聲援者，成為了他人的聲音。

And becoming an aid worker,

並且在成為救援的工作人員後，

I got to provide food, medical care and shelter

我能為數千民的阿富汗人民提供 食物、醫療服務及庇護的處所。

for thousands of Afghans.

I got to operate resettlement flights for thousands more,

我能為數千民的阿富汗人民 組織重新安置的班機，

and I got to make multiple trips to Kabul, with the Taliban’s blessing,

並且在塔利班的允許下， 數次前往喀布爾監督一切的進行。

to oversee it all.

But then, on December 18, 2021,

但在2021年12月18日，一切都改變了。

everything changed.

That morning, which started off like any other morning,

那天早上，如其他早晨般一樣的開始，

I was suddenly, inexplicably and unexpectedly

但我突然、莫名、意外的 被塔利班拘束了人身自由。

taken into Taliban custody.

As I was being driven

在我被開車帶往塔利班的情報總局時，

to the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence headquarters,

I was told that I just needed to answer a few routine questions,

我被告知只需回答幾個例行性的問題後，

and then I’d be sent back to my hotel.

我就會被帶回我的飯店。

Instead, a few hours later, I was brought into that basement room.

但是在數小時後，我被帶到了一個地下室的房間裡。

Three roommates, no blanket, no mattress, no pillow, no sun,

三個室友，沒有棉被、沒有床墊、 沒有枕頭、沒有太陽，

no way to communicate with the outside world

也沒有能夠跟外界通訊的方法，

and no clue what was to become of me.

並且對於我的未來也一無所知。

And from that moment on, I stayed in that basement

從那之後，我持續待在那個地下室裡，

in the dead of the Afghan winter, for 105 days.

正值阿富汗嚴寒的冬天中，待了105天。

The entire time, I feared that I might be taken in front of a firing squad,

那整段期間裡，我害怕我隨時可能會 被帶到行刑隊的槍口前。

at any minute.

And on the 45th day,

在第45天時，

I was beaten and tortured by 11 men wielding pipes,

經過了8天的絕食後， 我被11名手持管子的男子毆打及虐待。

after eight days on a hunger strike.

I had done nothing wrong.

我什麼也沒做錯。

But again, I was lucky.

但再一次的，我很幸運。

I not only had several exceptional advocates,

我不僅有數個傑出的聲援者，

but I had a state.

我更有一個國家。

The US government game me a voice

美國政府給了我一個聲音，

and asserted my human rights,

並且堅定主張我的人權，

and that's what ultimately led to my release

而最終成功使我能被釋放， 這是十天前所發生的事情。

10 days ago.

(Applause)

（掌聲）

And on the day of my release,

而在我被釋放的那天，

following a four-hour flight from Kabul to Qatar,

經過四小時從喀布爾抵達卡達後，

the euphoria I felt as I walked off that plane is indescribable.

我走下飛機時所感受到的欣快感， 無法用言語形容。

But amidst the triumph and joy of homecoming,

但在重返家園所感受到的榮耀及快樂中，

something was amiss.

卻存有一絲的缺憾。

On the day of my release, I returned to society

在我被釋放的那天，

我回歸社會後發現阿富汗的人道危機 變得更加嚴峻，

to find that the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan was only getting worse,

the whole world was fixated on Ukraine,

全世界的人都緊盯著烏克蘭，

and nearly every Afghan resettlement effort

而幾乎每個協助阿富汗人民重新安置計畫, 皆被暫緩或嘎然而止，

was on pause or had ground to a screeching halt,

with no effective resolution in sight.

而眼前並無任何有效的解決方案。

And that was a huge letdown.

這使我無比失望。

And that is why I decided that before even visiting my family,

而這就是為什麼我甚至在還沒見到家人前， 我就已經決定了，

I had to get back to work.

我必須重返工作。

Because the truth of the matter is 95 percent of Afghans

因為事實的真相是， 目前大約有百分之95的阿富汗人民

are currently not getting enough to eat.

並沒有足夠的糧食。

22.8 million are facing crisis levels of hunger.

兩千兩百八十萬人正面臨飢餓的危機。

97 percent are living below the poverty line.

百分之九十七的人生活在貧窮線之下。

And 9 million are living in extreme poverty.

並且九百萬人生活在極度貧困中。

And these are the individuals who fought alongside us

這些人是在過去20年中， 與我們在國際聯盟裡並肩作戰的人。

in the international coalition for the last 20 years.

They are our allies.

他們是我們的盟友。

They are our brothers and sisters,

他們是我們的兄弟姐妹，

and they are in desperate straits.

而他們正陷入窘境中。

The magnitude of the work ahead is staggering.

眼前所需要完成的工作令人震懾。

But we have to start somewhere.

但我們總要從某個地方開始。

And the question becomes "What should we do?"

因此問題將會是「我們該做什麼呢？」

In my mind, four things.

在我看來，有四件事情。

First, we must bolster humanitarian aid provisions

第一，我們必須強化國際社會中 對於人道救援的支持，

for the international community

by increasing support for and donations to grassroots organizations

透過提供更多的幫助及捐贈 給擁有足夠的基礎設施，

而得以確保物資能夠直接落入 最需要人們手中的民間組織。

that have infrastructure to ensure aid is getting directly into the hands

of the people who need it the most.

And that's not just my organization --

那不只是我的組織。

there are so many support-worthy groups doing exceptional work in Afghanistan,

有許多值得支持的團體 正在阿富汗進行傑出的工作，

and we need resources now.

而我們立即需要資源。

Second, we, government

第二，我們、政府 及曾在阿富汗打仗的36國人民，

and citizens of the 36 countries who fought in Afghanistan

must keep our promises to our Afghan allies,

必須對於我們的阿富汗盟友們堅守我們的承諾，

to whom we owe a debt,

這是我們所虧欠他們的，

by fast-tracking their resettlement,

我們需要加速他們的重新安置，

be it in the United States or elsewhere.

無論是在美國或其他地方都一樣。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

This, first and foremost, necessitates resettling refugees

最首要的，必須將在世界各地 於營區等待的難民重新安置，

who are currently waiting in camps around the world,

to reach a place that they can call home.

安置到一個他們得以稱為家的地方。

It also calls upon the international community to increase quotas

國際社會也必須對於阿富汗盟友們 提供更多的員額，

for Afghan allies

to accept more at-risk Afghans for permanent resettlement

接收更多處於危險的阿富汗人民， 使其得以永久定居，

and to expand programs like humanitarian parole,

並且擴大如人道主義假釋等計畫，

to generate more pathways for those in need.

讓需要的人有更多管道得以選擇。

Third ...

第三，

As we find pathways forward for these individuals,

在我們為這些人尋找未來的路上，

we must not separate families, we must preserve them.

我們絕對不能將家庭拆散， 我們必須保全他們。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Or, at the very least, create strict limits

或至少，對於家庭得以被分開的時間 樹立嚴格的限制，

for the amount of time that families can be separated.

Family separation like mine generates irreparable harm.

家庭的分開，如我曾經歷過的， 會產生無法恢復的傷害。

But clear and specific change to existing admission policies

針對現行錄取政策進行明確、具體的改變

can ensure that other minors do not face the same fate

可以確保其他未成年人不會面臨， 我跟我家人曾經的命運。

that befell me and my family.

Fourth -- and this is the most important of them all --

第四，也是最重要的，

we must reestablish an international diplomatic presence in Afghanistan,

我們必須重新建立在阿富汗的國際外交局勢，

to hold the Taliban accountable for their actions

以追究塔利班行為的責任，

and provide consular services to the people.

並且提供使館服務於人們。

It opens a channel to address Taliban’s actions,

與其將他們切割， 這可以提供一個指摘塔利班行為的管道，

rather than cutting off,

否則只會孤立並減少我們發揮影響力的媒介。

isolating and eliminating avenues for influence.

And I've witnessed what engagement with the Taliban can look like firsthand.

而我親眼見證與塔利班交涉的樣貌。

The negotiations that resulted in my release from captivity

促成我被釋放的談判，

were the direct result of effective diplomacy with the Taliban

是在世界舞台上與塔利班進行 有效外交交涉所促成的結果。

on the world stage.

Diplomats spoke to each other openly and resolved an issue of mutual concern.

外交官們彼此間敞開的溝通， 並且解決一個彼此共同關心的事項。

And while the success of this discussion is perhaps an anomaly,

雖然這次溝通的成功，或許並不常見，

the kind of diplomacy demonstrated by my release

但促成我被釋放的外交交涉，

can and should serve as a model for achieving other desired change

可以也應該被視為， 未來在阿富汗所期望達到改變的模範，

for the future of Afghanistan,

such as the restoration of girls' education above grade six,

例如，恢復六年級以上女童的教育，

freedom of press, bolstering women's rights,

新聞自由，女性權利的加強，

and most urgently, increasing humanitarian assistance.

並且最急迫的，增加人道救援的協助。

At the same time --

同時

(Applause)

（掌聲）

At the same time, our diplomacy can't be a blank check.

同時，我們外交政策不應是一張空白支票。

The Taliban must live up to their end of the bargain

塔利班必須履行他們的承諾，

to demonstrate that they are ready to engage in diplomacy,

展現出他們已經準備好進行外交交涉，

as an actor that upholds basic human rights,

作為維護基本人權， 而使必要自由得以確保的行動家，

that ensures necessary freedoms

and that does not take or hold hostages.

並且不綁架或俠持人質。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

At the end of the day,

最終，阿富汗的情勢極為複雜。

the situation in Afghanistan is an extremely complex one.

It can't be summed up in an eight-minute talk

一個我在四天前被釋放後，所撰寫的八分鐘演講，

I wrote four days ago, emerging from captivity.

並無法完整的涵蓋所有。

Yet there are tangible solutions,

但的確存在著明確的解決方案，

and I'm in the privileged position of being able to advocate for them,

而我有幸處於一個得為他們發聲的位子，

but I'm here today to tell you that you are too.

但我今日要告訴各位的是，其實你們也是。

The truth of the matter is,

事實的真相是，

especially in the case of Afghanistan,

尤以在阿富汗的情況更是如此，

change has always and will continue to start with everyday people.

改變，從古至今都必須從一般庶民開始。

This fall, tens of thousands of people from around the world

這個秋天，數十萬人將從世界各地 匯聚於阿富汗，幫助基層的阿富汗人民。

banded together at the grassroots level to aid Afghans in need.

You don't need to be an expert to engage,

你不需要是個專家也可以參與、

to volunteer, to contribute, to lobby,

成為志工、提供幫助、遊說、

or even to simply welcome a refugee to advocate for them.

或甚至是歡迎一個難民到來，並為他們聲援。

As Margaret Mead once said,

瑪格麗特·米德曾說，

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens

『切勿懷疑，那一小群細心且堅定的公民 就足以改變整個世界。

can change the world.

Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

實際上，真正變革一直以來都是 由一小群人所完成的。』

On the afternoon of my release 10 days ago,

在十天前我被釋放的那個下午，

I, at long last, climbed out of my basement cell

我終於爬出那個位於地下室的監牢， 並進入太陽的照耀，

and into the sunlight,

without anything binding my hands or covering my eyes.

在雙手未受束縛、雙眼未被遮蔽下，

I could see the sky.

我能看到天空了。

I traveled out of the prison through Kabul city in a Corolla sedan.

我從監獄乘著一台Corolla Sedan穿越喀布爾市。

I passed the American embassy

我經過了美國大使館，並抵達喀布爾國際機場。

and arrived at the Kabul International Airport.

I walked onto the tarmac, I climbed into the C-17,

我走過停機坪，並爬上了C-17運輸機，

I shook hands with American, Qatari and British diplomats,

我與美國、卡達、英國的外交官握手，

and suddenly, I was a free man again.

在這一刻，我重獲自由之身。

But again, I was one of the lucky ones.

但再次，我是幸運的。

Ultimately, being a captive reminded me of a time when I was helpless

最終，成為俘虜的經驗讓我回想到了 曾經感到無助且需要有人為我發聲的時候。

and needed a voice.

Now that I'm released, I have my voice back,

現在我被釋放後，我的聲音也回歸了，

and, mercifully, it puts me in a position where I can advocate

並且很幸運的，使我站在一個能夠發聲的位子，

for that little boy with the Statue of Liberty patch

能夠聲援那位追著美國夢，穿著由UNHCR所捐贈， 且繡有自由女神補貼牛仔褲的小男孩。

on his UNHCR-donated jeans,

chasing the American dream.

I hope you'll join me.

我希望你們能與我一起。

(Applause)

（掌聲）