I feel for you KV.

I am sure they don't think that what they are asking is unreasonable but why can't people who "don't understand" just take it on faith that they "don't understand" and give you the benefit of the doubt?

What is the point of "mandatory attendance?" Is it supposed to make the company into a friendly "team" in some business manual somewhere? Can't they understand there may be exceptions where that does more harm than good?

Can you take a sick day or vacation day to get out of these events if they are "mandatory work time"?

Maybe the friend you have there will volunteer to stay with you and run "interference" to keep other people away from you if you explain it to him for the event or something?