The Indictment – Les Citoyens Actifs

In Edgelanders: Amsterdam On Trial, artists Ehsan Fardjadniya and Raul Balai are working on a lawsuit against the city of Amsterdam. They demand that the city fulfill its ethical and legal obligations towards undocumented immigrants. The project, which culminates in a public trial at the end of October 2025 (when the city celebrates its 750th anniversary), is presented in several chapters.

The fifth chapter, The Indictment, is presented in several parts. In Les Citoyens Actifs, the artists present an interactive installation. Within the installation, experiences of undocumented immigrants are shared, and visitors are asked to actively participate in thinking about and writing the lawsuit.

Sails (often used as shelters) form the basis of an interactive installation in which the experiences of undocumented immigrants are shared—the uncertainty, the ignorance, but also the beautiful encounters and other experiences. The space is used dynamically and functions as an exhibition.

In the concluding event of chapter five: the theatrical symposium Le Colloque, all the collected testimonies and other insights will be brought together. During this symposium, the case will be developed for the public trial. This will take place in collaboration with lawyers, undocumented migrants, and the public.