Dear Mr. President: “Help me seek justice” Al-Ahsab says [Archives:2006/928/Reportage]
By: Hakim Almasmari
[email protected]
In his letter, Al-Ahsab asks the president to help him seek justice in his ongoing case, and grant him a life where his rights are respected and honored. Four years ago, Ahmad Rashid Al-Ahsab's house was robbed during the latter part of the night. He and his family were robbed, attacked, beaten and threatened to be killed. A massive farm and agricultural lands he owned were destroyed and its equipment damaged and stolen. His 12 children also were threatened with death and beaten ruthlessly. A gang of 16 brutally attacked his family, taking millions of riyals in money and personal belongings.
Al-Ahsab has tried every possible way to get justice, visiting nearly every major Yemeni official demanding the government protect his rights and bring the suspects to trial under the law. “I even went to the president demanding justice. He gave leading officials direct orders to solve my case but nothing has happened. I never expected a normal citizen would have the heart and bravery to go against direct orders from the president,” he added.
Immediately after the attack on his property, Al-Ahsab called authorities to investigate the case. Just days later, some of the gang members' fingerprints were found, giving him hope that justice would be seen. Ironically, things just got worse after that, as no effort has been seen to bring to justice those behind the crime.
Al-Ahsab suspects a massive conspiracy is behind the government not doing its job to secure and help the oppressed. “I have visited numerous ministers, political security heads and many top-ranking Yemeni officials. All of them gave direct orders to Dhamar police authorities to solve my case and bring the perpetrators to justice but nothing as happened. Nothing,” Al-Ahsab lamented.
Al-Ahsab produced several appeals from high-ranking officials agreeing with him in his case and ordering concerned sides to take immediate action to solve his ongoing problems. Those officials willing to help included the former and current Human Rights Ministers, the assistant Speaker of Parliament, the Yemeni Forum for Human Rights and other ministers and high-ranking officials.
Last year, as Al-Ahsab's family defended their case, they lived in a tent in front of the Minister of Interior's home, hoping the minister would stand up for their rights. Instead, according to his wife Mrs. Dahan, and mother of 16 she claims that she was pulled away, beaten on various parts of her body, dragged ruthlessly into a police vehicle and taken to prison along with her innocent children where they remained more than 12 hours without food or water, suffering mistreatment and inhumane treatment. The simplest home utensils including forks, spoons, small half-cracked teacups and even old ripped blankets were taken by police officers, resulting in the family losing the remaining little they had left.
“I refused to go to prison to claim my wife and my children's release, since I believed it was a flagrant human rights violation in general and women's and children's rights in particular,” Al-Ahsab said. Mrs. Dahan remembers and claims police authorities mistreated her when they touched her body in front of dozens of viewers on the street that day.
According to Al-Ahsab, when the family was released, they were taken to the capital's dirty sewers and harshly thrown from the police vehicle and into the sewers like old rags. Days after the incidents at the Minister of Interior's house, the family moved what was left of their tent and headed to the UN office in Sana'a. After Al-Ahsab family's brutal beating, they were taken to a hospital for treatment of wounds and injuries they received.
“Any gang that can out power the government is unbelievably strong. The Italian government took control and brought the mafia – considered the greatest gang in recent times – to justice, while our government cannot secure us from simple unorganized bandits,” Al-Ahsab noted. “I have lost hope. I lost everything I ever possessed in life. Life has lost its meaning for me and my family,” he concluded, walking away sorrowfully, looking to the sky and awaiting help from the One above.
——
[archive-e:928-v:14-y:2006-d:2006-03-13-p:report]
