Bahrain 1st-Hand: The AlKhawaja Story - Wife/Mother Speaks Out
With Zainab Alkhawaja in jail awaiting prosecution and her father Abdulhadi, now 81 days into a hunger strike, cut off from contact with his relatives from Monday until today, this has been a particularly difficult week for the family.
The Bahraini regime has been keen to reassure the world that Abdulhadi is in good health, but their decision to deny access to his family, lawyer and even the Danish Ambassador led to much speculation and concern over his condition. Authorities postponed the review of Abdulhadi's case, now scheduled to take place on 30 April. When the family was finally allowed to see him, they found that Abdulhadi was being drugged and force-fed with an energy drink, categorically against his wishes.
Today, Abdulhadi's wife Khadija al-Musawi wrote after she saw him and also spoke with her daughter Zainab:
#Bahrain Today it was a happy/sad day. Happy cus i saw my daughter Zainab and my dear husband Hadi.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain and sad cus i had to listen to Zainab telling me how she was beaten and almost suffocated by the police and then she is accused.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Sad cus I had to listen to dear Hadi telling me how he was drugged, restrained, force fed and kept incommunicado for five days.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Zainab was kicked so hard in her legs and pushed towards the wall and almost suffocated by the baton.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain and then the police made a complaint against her that she attacked them even though she was handcuffed.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain As for Hadi after his last call, he was very weak and dehydrated. The nurse came in the room asking him to flush the IV cannula.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain to make sure it is not blocked by blood cus he was not taking iv. the minute she put the liquid in the cannula Hadi passed out.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain He woke up after more than five hours, found himself in a different room restrained, with a tube down his nose (nesoenteric).
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain IV on both his hands and oxygen mask on his mouth. He started shaking the bed and trying to shout until a policeman came in.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain The policeman took the mask off and Hadi asked to c the Doctor. Time passed no doctor. He did the same thing until the doctor came.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Dr. Feryal came but she denied to have anything to do with force feeding him. My husband ask for the tube to be taken out.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain She left but the tube and the force feeding was not stopped. Next day the doctor who operated the force feeding came.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain His name is Dr. Ebrahim Zuwayed. Hadi asked him to take the tube out and stop the force feeding. Hadi told him it is against HR
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Hadi told him that he will hold him, the hospital and MOI responsible for that. He asked not to be force fed if something happens.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain And they have to respect that. The Dr. told him that he did the right thing and if he didnt force feed him;
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain He would either be dead or brain dead. The force feeding continued. Friday night the tube got blocked and the liquid (ensure);
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain was all over his face and clothes. the dr. came and tried to unblock the tube by a wire but he could not.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Hadi says the whole procedure wasvery painful. The Dr. told him he will take it out if he takes iv and juice.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Hadi agreed to take iv and juice when necessary only and just until Monday so he took the tube out.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain It was so painful. He had sever headache for hours after they took the tube out.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain No one was going into the room unless to check the force feeding machine. No one spoke to him. The dr. went to c him twice only.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain No phone calls, no family or lawyer visits. Hadi told the Dr. if what u did to me was right why was i kept incommunicado.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain If what u did is right u should tell people about it. The dr. said that they will do it again if they have to.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain I asked him so u r still on hunger stride. He said of course and all what they did, did not effect my soul. I will continue
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain He said: I will continue until freedom or death. and no one can take this from me. What is happening to us is not right nor fair.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain What was really depressing today taking a two year old child from one jail to another, from one prisoner to another.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain When Jude saw her mum she said to her I am upset with you mama. and Zainab said to her: I came here to bring baba Hadi to you.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Is it ok mama if i stay little more to bring baba Hadi. and Jude said in a very sweet sentence. Ok mama I love u.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Then after lunch I took her to c her grand father "baba Hadi" she was not confortable with the body search
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain When we went in she did not go to baba Hadi immediately so the police woman who was with us in the room said:
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain She hasn't seen him for so long this is why she doesn't go to him. It was three of them with us in the room.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain when we left she asked me where is baba Hadi. I said he will come. and changed the subject.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain when we reached home she started crying and said "bibi i want mama) i said to her inshalla mama. She thought i am confused.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain she said again"bibi I want mama Zainab). i got her toys out and started playing with her and succeeded at the end to make her laugh
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Now u tell me with a day like this should i b happy or sad. But i chose to b happy. Hadi is alive Zainab is fighting for justice
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Despite all that happened to Hadi he is as strong as a mountain, very thin but content and with his large smile.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain and again he said to us today he has never been happier. So I am lucky and happy and content as my to beloved Hadi and Zainab.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain No matter what they do they cannot break my Hadi or my Zainab and this gives me strength to continue being hopeful.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
#Bahrain Thank u Hadi Thank u Zainab. Sleep well and sweet dreams.
— Khadija Almousawi (@tublani2010) April 29, 2012
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