Human rights auction

A Hüseyin Işık Project

With the participation of Cumhur Adatepe and Aret Güzel Aleksanyan

This project auctioned the lives of human rights activists facing the death penalty. By bidding, their lives could be “saved.” If being a good person brings financial gain, everyone will strive to be good. If peace generates more profit than war, there will never again be war in the world.

The evening began with various performances centered on human rights—speeches, music, readings, and more. In the audience, individuals sat blindfolded and tied to their chairs, each representing a real human rights defender sentenced to death. Following the performances, they were brought to the stage and auctioned individually. Slides of the real activists they symbolized were projected behind them. All proceeds from the auction were donated to three NGOs dedicated to upholding human rights.

On December 10, 1997, Human Rights Day, this auction took place at the Interkulttheater.