Interview

Brussel Beiroet – een gesprek met Iman Humaydan

Ze is de kersverse voorzitter van PEN Libanon en voltooide begin dit jaar in Brussel haar vierde roman. Journaliste en schrijfster Iman Humaydan roept met haar fictie graag een ‘storm van vragen’ op. “Ik heb jaren on the road geleefd omdat thuisblijven niet veilig was. Die ervaring zit heel sterk in mijn werk.”

Iman Humaydan33

“Brussel doet me denken aan Beiroet,” begint Iman Humaydan, de Libanese journaliste en schrijfster die in januari voor de tweede keer te gast was bij Passa Porta.  “Beide steden zijn rijk aan talen en etnische groepen. Ik zou graag meer tijd hebben om me te verdiepen in de Belgische taalkwestie, want die boeit me. Ik voel een conflictdynamiek in Brussel, maar een heel  andere dan in Beiroet. Al bij al ervaar ik deze stad als een vredige plek om te schrijven.” Heel vredig begon Humaydans residentie in de schrijversflat aan de Hallepoort in Sint-Gillis nochtans niet. Op 5 januari arriveerde ze in Brussel vanuit Parijs, waar ze na haar echtscheiding enkele jaren geleden een tweede thuis vond. Op 7 januari richtten de gebroeders Kouachi hun bloedbad aan op de redactie van Charlie Hebdo. Humaydan: “Ik was in alle staten toen ik het nieuws hoorde, ook omdat mijn dochter in Parijs haar telefoon niet opnam. De dag van de aanslag was verschrikkelijk. Charlie Hebdo is geen weekblad dat ik bewonderde, al kocht ik het wel eens toen de Fransen nog discussieerden over het homohuwelijk – dat ik steun. Maar heb je de cover van de kersteditie van 2014 gezien? Die stootte me echt tegen de borst. Hoe dan ook, zulke bedenkingen zijn nu niet meer van tel. Ik hoop dat Charlie Hebdo verder gaat in z’n typerende stijl en ik blijf vrij om het al dan niet te kopen. Het geweld van 7 januari maakte diepe indruk. Het haalde de trauma’s uit mijn leven in Libanon weer boven. Ik heb het gevoel dat veiligheid zeldzaam wordt in deze wereld. We kunnen niet langer zeggen dat bepaalde problemen niet ‘van ons’ zijn. De wereld is te klein geworden. Buitensluiten, afschermen – dat lukt niet meer. Er zijn andere oplossingen nodig, op basis van integratie.”

BABY’S ON THE ROAD

Als Iman Humaydan verwijst naar de trauma’s uit haar jaren in Libanon, dan is dat geen overstatement: “Mijn eerste kortverhaal werd gepubliceerd in 1989, mijn eerste roman verscheen in 1997, toen ik al veertig was. Mensen vragen me vaak waarom het zo lang duurde. Maar ik heb tussen 1982 en 1989, terwijl er een burgeroorlog woedde, drie kinderen gekregen. Ik ben geen enkele keer rustig thuis bevallen. Mijn eerste baby werd in Frankrijk geboren, omdat we niet in Beiroet konden blijven door hevige bombardementen. Voor mijn tweede bevalling moest ik om veiligheidsredenen van West naar Oost-Beiroet. En mijn jongste kind kwam ter wereld in Cyprus.

Ik herinner me dat ik tegen de gynaecoloog zei: ‘Wat is dat toch? Elke keer als ik zwanger ben, laait de oorlog herop en moet ik vluchten.’ Waarop hij zei: ‘Neem geen kinderen meer. Misschien krijgen we dan vrede.’ (lacht)

Ik heb tien jaar in schuilkelders doorgebracht. Mijn dag stond in het teken van naar de bakker gaan voor het gezin: wanneer was dat het veiligst? Ik schreef wel, maar die flarden belandden in de lade. Sinds mijn veertiende heb ik altijd geschreven.” Humaydan beseft goed dat de recente geschiedenis van haar land in het Westen weinig gekend is: “Juist daarom ben ik zo gedreven om erover te schrijven. Ik heb jaren on the road geleefd, omdat er teveel geweld was om thuis te kunnen blijven. Die ervaring zit sterk in mijn werk. Ik schrijf niet over de verschrikkingen van de oorlog of over de politieke feiten. Ik wil lezers laten voelen hoe mensen met zo’n situatie omgaan. Hoe we het geweld overleven door te reizen, gek te worden, te dansen of te schilderen. Iedereen zoekt een uitweg. Niet iedereen vindt die – in mijn eerste roman pleegt één van de personages zelfmoord in zee, precies omdat ze geen deur naar buiten vindt. Maar het gaat me om de zoektocht.”

Iman Humaydan22Iman Humaydan29

STORM VAN VRAGEN

Achttien jaar na haar debuut legt Humaydan in Brussel de laatste hand aan haar vierde roman. De verhalen van de schrijfster hebben een lange ontstaansgeschiedenis en zetten haar op allerlei zijsporen. Humaydan: “Ik kan geen boek lezen wanneer ik voel dat de schrijver helemaal zeker weet wat goed is en wat slecht. Zo’n totaal gebrek aan twijfel stoot mij af. In mijn romans ga ik nooit tot het einde. Ik werp een storm van vragen op en laat de lezer daarmee verder gaan. Vroeger dacht ik daarom dat ik ‘fout’ schreef. Ik kom uit een seculier gezin en groeide op zonder religieuze dogma’s. Maar mijn vader had een uitgesproken visie op literatuur. Schrijven gold als een politieke en sociale missie, een manier waarop mannen de gemeenschap konden redden.

Ik heb lang niet durven publiceren omdat mijn werk zo anders was dan de boeken die mijn vader me gaf.

Maar je kunt je aanpak niet verloochenen. Het paternalistische schrijven, waarbij de lezer een waarheid wordt ingelepeld, ligt me niet. Ik doe liever wat ik doe.” Niet zelden raakt Humaydan verstrikt in haar eigen ‘storm van vragen’: “Na mijn eerste roman (Engelse vertaling B as in Beirut, Interlink books; Franse versie Ville à vif, Verticales) bleef ik achter met grote vraagtekens. Waarom zit geweld zo ingebakken in mijn land? Ik heb een bachelor in sociologie van de American University in Beiroet, maar geen enkele docent heeft me ooit een verklaring gegeven voor de wortels van het geweld. Ik besloot dan maar zelf op zoek te gaan en zo ontstond mijn tweede roman (Wild Mulberries, Interlink Books; Mûriers sauvages, Verticales). In dat boek ga ik terug naar het begin van de 20e eeuw, naar een stukje familiegeschiedenis. Mijn grootvader was een echte patriarch die zijdewormen kweekte. Hij verbood mijn tante om te trouwen, zodat ze zijn huishouden kon runnen en hield ook mijn vader, die briljant was, na de basisjaren thuis van school om op het veld te werken. Ik moest de confrontatie met dat oude, brutale patriarchaat aangaan.”

Iman Humaydan25Iman Humaydan30

ANDERE LEVENS

Aan haar derde roman Andere levens (De Geus), voorlopig de enige die van het Arabisch naar het Nederlands werd vertaald, schreef Humaydan maar liefst acht jaar. Humaydan: “De eerste flarden dateren van 2002, toen ik in Mombasa was voor een VN conferentie rond ontwikkeling. Ik sloeg een paar rondetafels over en glipte mijn hotel uit om gewone mensen te ontmoeten. Bepaalde indrukken en ervaringen van Maryam in Andere levens heb ik zelf zo meegemaakt in Kenia. Toch worstelde ik met Maryam als personage. Ze heeft een dubbel trauma. Ze verlaat Libanon nadat ze haar broer heeft verloren bij een bombardement. En daarna verdwijnt haar verloofde, die haar had moeten nareizen naar Adelaide. Maryam zwerft van Australië naar Kenia en keert na vijftien jaar terug naar Beiroet, maar ze voelt zich nergens thuis. Om dat echt te begrijpen moest ik stoppen met schrijven. Ik ben opnieuw gaan studeren om grip te krijgen op mijn onderwerp.” In 2006 behaalde Humaydan een master in de antropologie aan de American University in Beiroet met een thesis over de 2600 mensen die tijdens de Libanese burgeroorlog (1975-1990) verdwenen. Ze schreef een theatertekst over haar thesis, waar later de bekroonde film Here Comes the Rain van werd gemaakt. Verder verzorgde ze een handboek creatief schrijven voor de universiteit van Iowa  en werkte ze met de Italiaanse regisseur Silvano Castano aan een documentaire over de jonggestorven zangeres Asmahan, een Arabische diva die waarschijnlijk spioneerde voor de Britten tijdens WO II. Dat Andere levens überhaupt af raakte in 2010, mag een wonder heten. Humaydan: “Ik heb veel elementen uit mijn studie in de roman kunnen integreren. De cyclische vertelstructuur bijvoorbeeld – zo praten getraumatiseerde mensen echt. En dat gevoel van ‘in betweenness’ waaronder Maryam gebukt gaat? Dat is beschreven door Mary Douglas. Voor mij voelt het heel natuurlijk om wetenschappelijke inzichten in mijn fictie te gebruiken.

Ik heb snelwegen in mijn hoofd, waar de ideeën overheen razen.

Ik geloof niet in het scheiden van disciplines.”

ARABISCHE VROUWEN

Ook vandaag is Iman Humaydan met meerdere projecten tegelijk bezig. Ze rondt haar vierde roman af die de voorlopige titel Brieven naar Istanboel draagt, ze werkt met een Pakistaanse auteur aan een kookboek (“het eerste van de hand van schrijvers in plaats van chefs”) en ze stelt een tweede handboek creatief schrijven samen, dat voorbeelden put uit de Arabische literatuur.  Vanaf 1 februari 2015 neemt ze het voorzitterschap op van PEN Libanon: “Ik zou 200 jaar willen leven. Ik ben altijd bezig, met literaire en andere projecten. Het frustreert me enorm wanneer ik bots op mijn fysieke grenzen. Ik heb een zwakke rug. Ik zwem en volg fysiotherapie, maar er zijn dagen dat ik alleen kan slapen. Dan kan ik wel huilen om alle dingen die ik liever zou doen.” Op uitnodiging van buitenlandse universiteiten en organisaties geeft Humaydan lezingen over Arabische vrouwen: “Ik benader het onderwerp via literaire teksten van schrijfsters uit o.a. Egypte, Libanon, Syrië en Tunesië. Hun werk komt vanzelf uit bij kwesties als vrouwenrechten of familiewetten en de grote verschillen daarin tussen Arabische landen. In mijn ogen staan de Tunesische vrouwen het sterkst, al rukt ook in dat land de Sharia op. Ik hoop dat Tunesische vrouwen nog lang een voorbeeldrol mogen vervullen.” Maryam in Andere levens is een onafhankelijke vrouw, al geeft de roman geen eenduidig beeld van de plaats van de vrouw in het hedendaagse Libanon. Humaydan: “Er zijn grote sociale en intellectuele verschillen tussen Beiroet en dorpen in de bergen. Ik ben seculier opgevoed, maar dan nog.

Als een man voor mij kookt, vind ik dat fantastisch. Gewoon omdat het zo indruist tegen alle rolpatronen die ik heb meegekregen.

Mijn scheiding in 2008 maakte van mij de eerste gescheiden vrouw in de familie Humaydan. Familieleden vonden mijn scheiding een struikelblok, met die nuance dat ik niemand de kans gaf om er een punt van te maken. Ik ben sterk, ik ben financieel onafhankelijk – wat is het probleem? Het probleem begint als de vrouw afhankelijk is en terug moet naar een familie die haar met schaamte ontvangt. De vrouwenkwestie is altijd economisch.”

Iman Humaydan27Iman Humaydan28

BRIEVEN NAAR ISTANBOEL

In Brieven naar Istanboel, dat in de zomer van 2015 zal verschijnen, borduurt Humayan verder op een aantal zaken die haar boeien. Ze onderzoekt een zwarte bladzijde uit de Libanese geschiedenis – tijdens de burgeroorlog werden heel wat kinderen aan buitenlanders verkocht. Ze experiment met een springerige vertelvorm (“Ik ga zigzag door de tijd, als een naaimachine.”). Ze laat zelfs één van haar nevenpersonages research doen naar de zangeres Asmahan (“Voor mijn familie was Asmahan de slechte vrouw met de goede stem. Ik aanbad haar zoals ik alle vrouwen aanbad over wie ik niet mocht praten.”) Begin 2011, toen Humaydan nog maar net bezig was met het boek, verbleef ze in een schrijversresidentie in Den Haag. Nu werkt ze de laatste bladzijden af in Brussel, terwijl ze ook in de herfst van 2013 als Passa Porta resident in Villa Hellebosch aan de tekst schreef. Is Brieven naar Istanbul voor haar verbonden met de Lage Landen? “Ik haal altijd zuurstof uit een buitenlandse residentie. Het is alsof ik met lege batterijen aankom en opgeladen weer vertrek. Dat betekent niet altijd dat ik tijdens mijn verblijf veel schrijf.

Deze keer in Brussel, met de deadline in zicht, werk ik als bezeten. Maar in Den Haag resideerde ik in januari 2011, net op het moment van de Arabische lente. Het leek toen onmogelijk om aan een roman te werken.

Ik moest verbinding maken met mijn vrienden. We geloofden allemaal dat alles ten goed zou gaan veranderen. Ik schreef op mijn Facebook pagina en stuurde artikels naar Libanese kranten. Ik was zo opgewonden! Ik ben zelfs even stiekem van Amsterdam naar Caïro gevlogen – ik moest erbij zijn (lacht).” Alleen: vier jaar later, zelfde boek, weer een Benelux residentie… maar geen lente meer, wel Charlie Hebdo. Humaydan: “Dat ik me deze maand wel kon concentreren, heeft alles met de dynamiek van het schrijfproces te maken. Aan het begin van een roman, wanneer ik nog op zoek ben naar de draadjes van mijn verhaal, ben ik vatbaar voor afleiding. Maar op het einde zit ik zo in mijn tunnel, dan storm ik overal doorheen.”

 Iman Humaydan24

 

Privacy Overview

This Privacy Policy sets out how we, This is how we read, collect, store and use information about you when you use or interact with our website, thisishowweread.be (our website) and where we otherwise obtain or collect information about you. This Privacy Policy is effective from 17th February 2020.

Contents

  • Summary
  • Our details
  • When you visit our website
  • Marketing communications
  • Information obtained from third parties
  • Disclosure and additional uses of your information
  • How long we retain your information
  • How we secure your information
  • Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area
  • Your rights in relation to your information
  • Changes to our Privacy Policy
  • Children’s Privacy

Summary

This section summarises how we obtain, store and use information about you. It is intended to provide a very general overview only. It is not complete in and of itself and it must be read in conjunction with the corresponding full sections of this Privacy Policy.

  • Data controller: This is how we read
  • How we collect or obtain information about you: when you provide it to us e.g. by contacting us, leaving comments on our blog, completing registration forms, adding or rating locations, posting blogs, or signing up for content such as newsletters. From your use of our website, using cookies and occasionally, from third parties such as mailing list providers.
  • Information we collect: name, contact details, social media information, IP address, information from cookies, information about your computer or device (e.g. device and browser type), information about how you use our website (e.g. which pages you have viewed, the time when you view them and what you clicked on, the geographical location from which you accessed our website (based on your IP address).
  • How we use your information: for administrative and business purposes (particularly to contact you, to improve our business and website, to fulfil our contractual obligations, to advertise our and other’s goods and services, to analyse your use of our website, and in connection with our legal rights and obligations.)
  • Disclosure of your information to third parties: user information can be shared with partners for specific types of content and events where a user has registered their information. Other disclosures are only to the extent necessary to run our business, to our service providers, to fulfil any contracts we enter into with you and where required by law or to enforce our legal rights.
  • Do we sell your information to third parties (other than in the course of a business sale or purchase or similar event): No, This is how we read, does not sell data. However, when you register or sign up for certain types of content, your registration data can be shared with sponsors and partners. Examples of where we do this include event registrations, webinar signups or whitepaper downloads. We will always make it clear where any information provided will be shared with other parties.
  • How long we retain your information: for no longer than necessary, taking into account any legal obligations we have (e.g. to maintain records for tax purposes), any other legal basis we have for using your information (e.g. your consent, performance of a contract with you or our legitimate interests as a business) and certain additional factors described in the main section below entitled How long we retain your information. For specific retention periods in relation to certain information which we collect from you, please see the main section below entitled How long we retain your information.
  • How we secure your information: using appropriate technical and organisational measures such as storing your information on secure servers, encrypting transfers of data to or from our servers using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology, encrypting payments you make on or via our website using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology and only granting access to your information where necessary.
  • Use of cookies and similar technologies: we use cookies and similar information-gathering technologies such as marketing automation tracking on our website including essential, functional, analytical and targeting cookies. For more information, please visit our cookies policy.
  • Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area: By using our website, your information may be transferred outside of the European Economic Area. We take personal data seriously and as such we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including, for example, that the third parties we use who transfer your information outside the European Economic Area have self-certified themselves as compliant with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield.
  • Use of profiling: we use profiling to understand our users better through web and marketing analytics, provide targeted advertising and deliver a personalised user experience.
  • Your rights in relation to your information
    • to access your information and to receive information about its use
    • to have your information corrected and/or completed
    • to have your information deleted
    • to restrict the use of your information
    • to receive your information in a portable format
    • to object to the use of your information
    • to withdraw your consent to the use of your information
    • to complain to a supervisory authority
  • Sensitive personal information: we do not collect what is commonly referred to as ‘sensitive personal information’.

Our details

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact the data controller.

The data controller in respect of our website is This is how we read.

You can contact the data controller by using the details above or by sending an email to info@thisishowweread.be.

When you visit our website

We collect and use information from website visitors in accordance with this section and the section entitled Disclosure and additional uses of your information.

Web server log information

We use a third party server to host our website called SystemDeveloper.nl the privacy policy of which is available here: http://www.systemdeveloper.nl/privacy/

Our website server automatically logs the IP address you use to access our website as well as other information about your visit such as the pages accessed, information requested, the date and time of the request, the source of your access to our website (e.g. the website or URL (link) which referred you to our website), and your browser version and operating system.

Use of website server log information for IT security purposes

We collect and store server logs to ensure network and IT security and so that the server and website remain uncompromised. This includes analysing log files to help identify and prevent unauthorised access to our network, the distribution of malicious code, denial of services attacks and other cyber-attacks, by detecting unusual or suspicious activity.

Unless we are investigating suspicious or potential criminal activity, we do not make, nor do we allow our hosting provider to make, any attempt to identify you from the information collected via server logs.

Legal basis for processing: compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject (Article 6(1)(c) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legal obligation: we have a legal obligation to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk of our processing of information about individuals. Recording access to our website using server log files is such a measure.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: we have a legitimate interest in using your information for the purposes of ensuring network and information security.

Use of website server log information to analyse website use and improve our website

We use the information collected by our website server logs to analyse how our website users interact with our website and its features. For example, we analyse the number of visits and unique visitors we receive, the time and date of the visit, the location of the visit and the operating system and browser use.

We use the information gathered from the analysis of this information to improve our website. For example, we use the information gathered to change the information, content and structure of our website and individual pages based according to what users are engaging most with and the duration of time spent on particular pages on our website.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest: improving our website for our website users and getting to know our website users’ preferences so our website can better meet their needs and desires.

Cookies

Cookies are data files which are sent from a website to a browser to record information about users for various purposes.

We use cookies on our website, including essential, functional, analytical and targeting cookies.

For further information on how we use cookies, please see our cookies policy.

You can reject some or all of the cookies we use on or via our website by changing your browser settings or non-essential cookies by using a cookie control tool, but doing so can impair your ability to use our website or some or all of its features. For further information about cookies, including how to change your browser settings, please visit www.allaboutcookies.org or see our cookie policy.

When you contact us

We collect and use information from individuals who contact us in accordance with this section and the section entitled Disclosure and additional uses of your information.

Email

When you send an email to the email address displayed on our website we collect your email address and any other information you provide in that email (such as your name, telephone number and the information contained in any signature block in your email).

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest(s): responding to enquiries and messages we receive and keeping records of correspondence.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where your message relates to us providing you with goods or services or taking steps at your request prior to providing you with our goods and services (for example, providing you with information about such goods and services), we will process your information in order to do so).

Enquiry forms

When you contact us using an enquiry form, we collect your personal details and match this to any information we hold about you on record. Typical personal information collected will include your name and contact details. We will also record the time, date and the specific form you completed.

If you do not provide the mandatory information required by our contact form, you will not be able to submit the contact form and we will not receive your enquiry.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest(s): responding to enquiries and messages we receive and keeping records of correspondence.

We will also use this information to tailor any follow up sales and marketing communications with you. For further information, see the section of this privacy policy titled ‘Marketing Communications’.

Messages you send to us via our contact form may be stored outside the European Economic Area on our contact form provider’s servers.

Phone

When you contact us by phone, we collect your phone number and any information provide to us during your conversation with us.

We record customer-facing phone calls for training and customer service purposes.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation)

Legitimate interest(s): responding to enquiries and messages we receive and keeping records of correspondence.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where your message relates to us providing you with goods or services or taking steps at your request prior to providing you with our goods and services (for example, providing you with information about such goods and services), we will process your information in order to do so).

Post

If you contact us by post, we will collect any information you provide to us in any postal communications you send us.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation)

Legitimate interest(s): responding to enquiries and messages we receive and keeping records of correspondence.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where your message relates to us providing you with goods or services or taking steps at your request prior to providing you with our goods and services (for example, providing you with information about such goods and services), we will process your information in order to do so).

Marketing communications

Our content, goods and services

When signing up for content, registering on our website or making a payment, we will use the information you provide in order to contact you regarding related content, products and services.

We will continue to send you marketing communications in relation to similar goods and services if you do not opt out from receiving them.

You can opt-out from receiving marketing communications at any time by emailing info@thisishowweread.be

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: Sharing relevant, timely and industry-specific information on related business services, in order to assist your organisation, grow.

Third party goods and services

In addition to receiving information about our products and services, you can opt in to receiving marketing communications from us in relation third party goods and services by email by ticking a box indicating that you would like to receive such communications.

Legal basis for processing: consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Consent: you give your consent to us sending you information about third party goods and services by signing up to receive such information in accordance with the steps described above.

Transfer and storage of your information

Information for marketing campaigns will be stored outside the European Economic Area on our third-party mailing list provider’s servers in the United States.

For further information about the safeguards used when your information is transferred outside the European Economic Area, see the section of this privacy policy below entitled Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area.

Use of tracking in emails

We use technologies such as tracking pixels (small graphic files) and tracked links in the emails we send to allow us to assess the level of engagement our emails receive by measuring information such as the delivery rates, open rates, click through rates and content engagement that our emails achieve.

Information obtained from third parties

This section sets out how we obtain or collect information about you from third parties.

Information received from third parties

We can often receive information about you from third parties. The third parties from which we receive information about you can include partner events within the marketing industry and other organisations that we have a professional affiliation with.

It is also possible that third parties with whom we have had no prior contact may provide us with information about you.

Information we obtain from third parties will generally be your name and contact details but will include any additional information about you which they provide to us.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract or to take steps at your request to enter into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: where a third party has passed on information about you to us (such as your name and email address) in order for us to provide services to you, we will process your information in order to take steps at your request to enter into a contract with you and perform a contract with you (as the case may be).

Legal basis for processing: consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Consent: where you have asked that a third party to share information about you with us and the purpose of sharing that information is not related to the performance of a contract or services by us to you, we will process your information on the basis of your consent, which you give by asking the third party in question to pass on your information to us.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: where a third party has shared information about you with us and you have not consented to the sharing of that information, we will have a legitimate interest in processing that information in certain circumstances.

For example, we would have a legitimate interest in processing your information to perform our obligations under a sub-contract with the third party, where the third party has the main contract with you. Our legitimate interest is the performance of our obligations under our sub-contract.

Similarly, third parties may pass on information about you to us if you have infringed or potentially infringed any of our legal rights. In this case, we will have a legitimate interest in processing that information to investigate and pursue any such potential infringement.

Information obtained by us from third parties

In certain circumstances (for example, to verify the information we hold about you or obtain missing information we require to provide you with a service) we will obtain information about you from certain publicly accessible sources, both EU and non-EU, such as Companies House, online customer databases, business directories, media publications, social media, and websites (including your own website if you have one.

In certain circumstances will also obtain information about you from private sources, both EU and non-EU, such as marketing data services.

We will continue to send you marketing communications in relation to similar goods and services if you do not opt out from receiving them.

You can opt-out from receiving marketing communications at any time by emailing info@thisishowweread.be

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: Sharing relevant, timely and industry-specific information on related business services.

Where we receive information about you in error

If we receive information about you from a third party in error and/or we do not have a legal basis for processing that information, we will delete your information.

Disclosure and additional uses of your information

This section sets out the circumstances in which will disclose information about you to third parties and any additional purposes for which we use your information.

Disclosure of your information to service providers

We use a number of third parties to provide us with services which are necessary to run our business or to assist us with running our business

These include the following: Internet services, IT service providers and web developers.

Our third-party service providers are located both inside and outside of the European Economic Area.

Your information will be shared with these service providers where necessary to provide you with the service you have requested, whether that is accessing our website or ordering goods and services from us.

We do not display the identities of our service providers publicly by name for security and competitive reasons. If you would like further information about the identities of our service providers, however, please contact us directly by email and we will provide you with such information where you have a legitimate reason for requesting it (where we have shared your information with such service providers, for example).

Legal basis for processing: legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest relied on: where we share your information with these third parties in a context other than where is necessary to perform a contract (or take steps at your request to do so), we will share your information with such third parties in order to allow us to run and manage our business efficiently.

Legal basis for processing: necessary to perform a contract and/or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contract (Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Reason why necessary to perform a contract: we may need to share information with our service providers to enable us to perform our obligations under that contract or to take the steps you have requested before we enter into a contract with you.

Disclosure and use of your information for legal reasons

Indicating possible criminal acts or threats to public security to a competent authority

If we suspect that criminal or potential criminal conduct has been occurred, we will in certain circumstances need to contact an appropriate authority, such as the police. This could be the case, for instance, if we suspect that we fraud or a cyber-crime has been committed or if we receive threats or malicious communications towards us or third parties.

We will generally only need to process your information for this purpose if you were involved or affected by such an incident in some way.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interests: preventing crime or suspected criminal activity (such as fraud).

In connection with the enforcement or potential enforcement our legal rights

We will use your information in connection with the enforcement or potential enforcement of our legal rights, including, for example, sharing information with debt collection agencies if you do not pay amounts owed to us when you are contractually obliged to do so. Our legal rights may be contractual (where we have entered into a contract with you) or non-contractual (such as legal rights that we have under copyright law or tort law).

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest: enforcing our legal rights and taking steps to enforce our legal rights.

In connection with a legal or potential legal dispute or proceedings

We may need to use your information if we are involved in a dispute with you or a third party for example, either to resolve the dispute or as part of any mediation, arbitration or court resolution or similar process.

Legal basis for processing: our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation).

Legitimate interest(s): resolving disputes and potential disputes.

How long we retain your information

This section sets out how long we retain your information. We have set out specific retention periods where possible. Where that has not been possible, we have set out the criteria we use to determine the retention period.

Retention periods

Server log information: we retain information on our server logs for 3 months.

Correspondence and enquiries: when you make an enquiry or correspond with us for any reason, whether by email or via our contact form or by phone, we will retain your information for as long as it takes to respond to and resolve your enquiry, and for 36 further month(s), after which point we will archive your information.

Newsletter: we retain the information you used to sign up for our newsletter for as long as you remain subscribed (i.e. you do not unsubscribe).

Criteria for determining retention periods

In any other circumstances, we will retain your information for no longer than necessary, taking into account the following:

    • the purpose(s) and use of your information both now and in the future (such as whether it is necessary to continue to store that information in order to continue to perform our obligations under a contract with you or to contact you in the future);
    • whether we have any legal obligation to continue to process your information (such as any record-keeping obligations imposed by relevant law or regulation);
    • whether we have any legal basis to continue to process your information (such as your consent);
    • how valuable your information is (both now and in the future);
    • any relevant agreed industry practices on how long information should be retained;
    • the levels of risk, cost and liability involved with us continuing to hold the information;
    • how hard it is to ensure that the information can be kept up to date and accurate; and
    • any relevant surrounding circumstances (such as the nature and status of our relationship with you).

How we secure your information

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to secure your information and to protect it against unauthorised or unlawful use and accidental loss or destruction, including:

  • only sharing and providing access to your information to the minimum extent necessary, subject to confidentiality restrictions where appropriate, and on an anonymised basis wherever possible;
  • using secure servers to store your information;
  • verifying the identity of any individual who requests access to information prior to granting them access to information;
  • using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software to encrypt any payment transactions you make on or via our website;
  • only transferring your information via closed system or encrypted data transfers;

Transmission of information to us by email

Transmission of information over the internet is not entirely secure, and if you submit any information to us over the internet (whether by email, via our website or any other means), you do so entirely at your own risk.

We cannot be responsible for any costs, expenses, loss of profits, harm to reputation, damages, liabilities or any other form of loss or damage suffered by you as a result of your decision to transmit information to us by such means.

Transfers of your information outside the European Economic Area

Your information may be transferred and stored outside the European Economic Area (EEA) in the circumstances set out earlier in this policy.

We will also transfer your information outside the EEA or to an international organisation in order to comply with legal obligations to which we are subject (compliance with a court order, for example). Where we are required to do so, we will ensure appropriate safeguards and protections are in place.

Your rights in relation to your information

Subject to certain limitations on certain rights, you have the following rights in relation to your information, which you can exercise by writing to the data controller using the details provided at the top of this policy.

  • to request access to your information and information related to our use and processing of your information;
  • to request the correction or deletion of your information;
  • to request that we restrict our use of your information;
  • to receive information which you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format (e.g. a CSV file) and the right to have that information transferred to another data controller (including a third-party data controller);
  • to object to the processing of your information for certain purposes (for further information, see the section below entitled Your right to object to the processing of your information for certain purposes); and
  • to withdraw your consent to our use of your information at any time where we rely on your consent to use or process that information. Please note that if you withdraw your consent, this will not affect the lawfulness of our use and processing of your information on the basis of your consent before the point in time when you withdraw your consent.

In accordance with Article 77 of the General Data Protection Regulation, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your habitual residence, place of work or of an alleged infringement of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Further information on your rights in relation to your personal data as an individual

You can find out further information about your rights, as well as information on any limitations which apply to those rights, by reading the underlying legislation contained in Articles 12 to 22 and 34 of the General Data Protection Regulation, which is available here:http://ec.europa.eu/justice/data-protection/reform/files/regulation_oj_en.pdf

Verifying your identity where you request access to your information

Where you request access to your information, we are required by law to use all reasonable measures to verify your identity before doing so.

These measures are designed to protect your information and to reduce the risk of identity fraud, identity theft or general unauthorised access to your information.

How we verify your identity

Where we possess appropriate information about you on file, we will attempt to verify your identity using that information.

If it is not possible to identity you from such information, or if we have insufficient information about you, we may require original or certified copies of certain documentation in order to be able to verify your identity before we are able to provide you with access to your information.

We will be able to confirm the precise information we require to verify your identity in your specific circumstances if and when you make such a request.

Your right to object

You have the following rights in relation to your information, which you may exercise in the same way as you may exercise by writing to the data controller using the details provided at the top of this policy.

  • to object to us using or processing your information where we use or process it in order
  • to carry out a task in the public interest or for our legitimate interests, including ‘profiling’ (i.e. analysing or predicting your behaviour based on your information) based on any of these purposes; and
  • to object to us using or processing your information for direct marketing purposes (including any profiling we engage in that is related to such direct marketing).

You may also exercise your right to object to us using or processing your information for direct marketing purposes by:

  • clicking the unsubscribe link contained at the bottom of any marketing email we send to you and following the instructions which appear in your browser following your clicking on that link;
  • sending an email to info@thisishowweread.be, asking that we stop sending you marketing communications or by including the words “OPT OUT”.

Sensitive Personal Information

‘Sensitive personal information’ is information about an individual that reveals their racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, genetic information, biometric information for the purpose of uniquely identifying an individual, information concerning health or information concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

Our website does not allow you to register any ‘Sensitive Information’, however if we ask for this, you will be considered to have explicitly consented to us processing that sensitive personal information under Article 9(2)(a) of the General Data Protection Regulation.

Changes to our Privacy Policy

We update and amend our Privacy Policy from time to time.

Minor changes to our Privacy Policy

Where we make minor changes to our Privacy Policy, we will update our Privacy Policy with a new effective date stated at the beginning of it. Our processing of your information will be governed by the practices set out in that new version of the Privacy Policy from its effective date onwards.

Major changes to our Privacy Policy or the purposes for which we process your information

Where we make major changes to our Privacy Policy or intend to use your information for a new purpose or a different purpose than the purposes for which we originally collected it, we will notify you by email (where possible) or by posting a notice on our website.

We will provide you with the information about the change in question and the purpose and any other relevant information before we use your information for that new purpose.

Wherever required, we will obtain your prior consent before using your information for a purpose that is different from the purposes for which we originally collected it.

Children’s Privacy

Because we care about the safety and privacy of children online, we comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 (COPPA). COPPA and its accompanying regulations protect the privacy of children using the internet. We do not knowingly contact or collect information from persons under the age of 18. The website is not intended to solicit information of any kind from persons under the age of 18.

It is possible that we could receive information pertaining to persons under the age of 18 by the fraud or deception of a third party. If we are notified of this, as soon as we verify the information, we will, where required by law to do so, immediately obtain the appropriate parental consent to use that information or, if we are unable to obtain such parental consent, we will delete the information from our servers. If you would like to notify us of our receipt of information about persons under the age of 18, please do so by contacting us by using the details at the top of this policy.