Why I Participated in the Oslo Freedom Forum and What I Learned

The speeches and testimonies of the first day were not only moving, they were profoundly inspiring. I was especially touched by the story of Kim Yumi, a North Korean defector who, along with her family, risked everything in pursuit of freedom. Equally impactful were the voices of Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a prominent Tanzanian human rights activist, and Canadian journalist and author Judi Rever, who courageously spoke about Paul Kagame and the hidden truths surrounding the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Their stories, and those of many others, reminded me that the struggle against tyranny is universal, transcending borders and individual conflicts. In essence, it is the story of Haig and Bel: the legendary Armenian forefather who rose against the tyrant and fought for freedom. 

Throughout the three days of the forum, alongside the various workshops, debates and keynote talks, we had meaningful conversations with many people who were genuinely open and eager to learn more about the Armenian hostages in Baku and the rights of the Artsakh Armenians. Many not only showed interest, but also asked how they could support the cause.  

I was particularly struck by how well-informed some participants were, not only about the Armenian Genocide of 1915 but also about the ongoing genocide in Artsakh.  

One powerful example was Tekle, a Tigrayan scholar, who not only used the term Artsakh with familiarity but also offered a thoughtful analysis of the recurring patterns in genocidal strategies perpetrated by different regimes. These interactions highlighted the value of the forum as a space for dialogue and connection. My first takeaway was the importance of simply being present on global stages like OFF, even when our own cause is not yet at the center of attention. 

We had scheduled our protest for 5 p.m. on the second day of the forum, timing it for when all participants would be leaving the venue. Earlier that day, one of the Forum organizers approached us to express awareness of our planned protest and signaled his solidarity with our cause. As the time approached, it was raining cats and dogs – but remarkably, the downpour stopped just as our protest began. We were a group of about 15 people, including members of the Armenian community in Norway and supportive Norwegian friends. Through our activist network, we amplified the message across social media, reaching many others.  

This year’s forum was titled “Imagine,” and it inspired me to do just that. I imagined a powerful keynote speaker next year featuring the testimony of an Artsakh Armenian. I also envisioned a broader Armenian presence, not just two participants from two countries, but twenty voices from twenty different countries. The forum has the potential to become a crucial platform to support the global effort to hold Ilham Aliyev, the genocidal dictator of Azerbaijan, accountable before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. And while we were there this year to bring attention to the plight of Armenian hostages in Baku, one of the most meaningful takeaways for me was the opportunity to express our solidarity with other courageous individuals who are also fighting for freedom on different places of the world.  

As an Armenian by choice, I experienced the Oslo Freedom Forum as a place where the very spirit of freedom that Haig Nahabed once embodied and that became the genesis of the Armenian people is alive and shared by all who gather there. And in a world that today seems to be shifting toward tyranny and authoritarianism, this spirit stands firm, offering hope and solidarity. I remain convinced that freedom will prevail and that our struggle to bring our hostages home is not only just but destined to succeed. #FreeArmenianHostages  

(Jonathan Spangenberg was born in Germany but grew up in Anjar, Lebanon from 1984 to 2004, where his parents were responsible for the boarding school at the Armenian Evangelical School of Anjar. He studied history and since 2022, has been the chairman of the board of the Central Council of Armenians in Germany.)