A scene inside "Al-Kharsan" Café in Zubair, Basra. (Photo: 964media)
'Symbol of silent community'
Al-Kharsan café provides meeting place for people with hearing and speech impairments in Basra
BASRA – For over a decade, more than 15 individuals with hearing and speech impairments have gathered daily at “Al-Kharsan” Café in Zubair’s Grand Market. The café, named in their honor, offers a quiet space where patrons communicate in sign language away from the bustle of daily life.
Al-Kharsan is an Arabic term derived from Akhras, which means “mute” or “unable to speak.” In this context, “Al-Kharsan” refers specifically to people with speech impairments.
Mohammed Najm, the café’s owner, said he learned sign language to communicate with his regular patrons. “Most of them work in freelance jobs, and the people of Zubair appreciate them for their high morals,” he told 964media.
Despite not receiving social welfare support from the government, many of the café’s patrons are married and live in modest homes. Najm added, “At their core, they are peaceful people. They share their friends’ joys and sorrows with complete loyalty.”
Ali Hussein, a friend of the group, said, “Most of them do not own private homes and work in strenuous jobs to make a living.” He described the café as “a symbol of a silent community that has found a space for communication and self-expression.”
