Ahmad Ashour 20 years, Gaza
Mai Al Ma'souabi 21 years, Gaza

Our prisoners are from us, but we are not from them. Excuse me if I tell you that these human beings are different from us, because what they have offered us a lot, beyond our imagination. We haven't lived their experience. They have offered their youth, and the most beautiful days of their life, for us, so that we can live in freedom.

We knew how difficult it was going to be, but we knocked on the door, and entered, addressing her, his mother.  And despite all the sadness that was pouring out of her heart, we glimpsed some happiness in her eyes. Maybe knowing that there's someone who has come to ask about her son, and cares about his cause.

Tears of Anguish

We started by asking her about her son, his name, age, and the circumstances of his arrest. The effects of this nightmare of occupation were in her tears, and we felt the pain in her face. She started talking about her son “Sa'id Mohamad Skeik” 32 years old, and the third son of a family made of seven daughters and five sons. He was arrested on March, 10 1993, before he was able to complete his high school education, which he finished later on, while in prison. Regarding his arrest, she said, he was throwing stones at the Israeli forces, like any young man, who cares about his homeland, and he used to participate in demonstrations and protests against the practices of the Israeli military occupation. His arrest was during the month of Ramadan, right after Suhour, the night prayers, when the family was shocked to find their son being arrested without prior alert.

Nafhah, the Final Dungeon

They didn't know at first where he was being held, she replied with anguish, when asked about where he was imprisoned.  Family visits held troubles that they faced. They received help from the Red Cross, when he was first arrested in Majdal prison, then in Beer Saba', and finally in Nafhah prison.

As for visits, she told us that she cannot even begin to describe the suffering.  None of the family members except her can visit, not even his father. That she is allowed to visit him once every two weeks, and for no more than 15 minutes. Sometimes, the visit is canceled after going through many troubles to get to the prison. They remain under the mercy of the Israeli occupation forces, and are subjected to personal inspection measures that are frightening, especially when new equipment or machines are used. They are not even allowed to bring him the medicine he needs.

Until after Death

When asked the difficult question, how long will he be away? We could see the pain engulfing her, and the tears, running down her wrinkled cheeks, the result of years of suffering.  She answered that he is sentenced to three life imprisonments and fifty additional years.  We were afraid to ask this question, knowing how immense her pain is, when her tears started to flow again.

His older sister goes back in her memory to talk about her brother, who would help his sisters with their school work, who would take care and pay attention to his disabled sister, and treat her with kindness. About his constant visits to his married sisters during Eid, and family occasions. She ended her talk by saying that it is been a long time since she has seen him, how much she misses him, and that she awaits that day when she can see him again.