Jan 2021
You say it is humane to make a person stand
with their hands up against a concrete wall
for nine hours in November cold
You say it is humane to put thirty people
in a cell built for four and make them share
one loaf of bread on the third day of their arrest
You say it is humane to make a person sing
the national anthem, and beat them with
batons if they don't know the second verse
You say it is humane to build
concentration camps for political prisoners
Because you’re only protecting your country.
with their hands up against a concrete wall
for nine hours in November cold
You say it is humane to put thirty people
in a cell built for four and make them share
one loaf of bread on the third day of their arrest
You say it is humane to make a person sing
the national anthem, and beat them with
batons if they don't know the second verse
You say it is humane to build
concentration camps for political prisoners
Because you’re only protecting your country.
Since August 2020, the regime in Belarus has committed thousands of crimes against peaceful protesters. Unlawful arrests, torture, and ****** are a daily occurence in Belarus today. All the things listed in the poem are based on documented cases of abuse and human rights violations.
