Lahore: Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), human rights organisation once again joined forces with Olomopolo to present groundbreaking event titled ‘Caught!’-an escape room experience designed to shed light on intersection of death penalty and torture. Coinciding with World Day Against Death Penalty (October 10), this three-day event aims to engage, educate and inspire attendees by immersing them in complexities of criminal justice system and consequences of capital punishment.

Event, featuring creative design and direction by esteemed Ryan Van Winkle is set to captivate participants while delivering powerful message about urgent need to reduce application of death penalty. ‘Caught!’ will take place at Lahore’s historic Bari Studios.

Participants entering escape room will find themselves thrust into high-stakes scenario reminiscent of capital punishment cases. Through solving puzzles and unraveling clues, they will grapple with moral, ethical and legal dilemmas that permeate these life-and-death decisions. This immersive experience serves as poignant metaphor for race against time faced by individuals on death row, heightening tension and urgency that characterises these cases.

More than mere entertainment, JPP’s escape room event serves as an educational tool and call to action. By participating, attendees will gain deeper understanding of flaws and injustices inherent in death penalty system. They will be encouraged to contemplate irrevocable consequences of wrongful convictions and profound impact on lives of those condemned. Ultimately, this innovative initiative strives to raise awareness, promote empathy and galvanise public support for limiting use of death penalty.

Three-day event will see active participation from influencers, socialites, celebrities, and media and will be open to public. JPP will collaborate with social media influencers who share their experiences through live streaming, shedding light on intersection between torture and death penalty convictions.

Ryan Van Winkle, an American poet, live artist, podcaster and critic, has played pivotal role in crafting script for escape room. He has enlisted expertise of game designer from UK to develop games for escape room. Ryan has been valued collaborator with JPP since 2016 on various projects, including ‘Bus Kar Do,’ ‘No Time to Sleep,’ and ‘We’ve Been Waiting For You.’

Justice Project Pakistan has history of impactful collaborations with Olomopolo Media, dating back to 2014. ‘LIMBO’-dramatic reading of letters from prisoners on death row, performed by renowned actors Erfan Khoosat, Sarmad Khoosat and Samiya Mumtaz. ‘No Time to Sleep’-Groundbreaking 24-hour live performance by actor Sarmad Khoosat, based on life and case history of JPP’s first client who spent 17 years on death row.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 09 2023

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