Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive)
Ibtisam Saleh - Bahrain

The detainees were getting fewer and fewer, and Rula Al Saffar, Jalila Al Salman, and Ayat Al Qurmuzi would remain; the three of them waiting for their unknown fate. Rula continues her story to Bahrain Mirror: When Ayat was sentenced she was moved from the detention unit to the main prison. It was a painful blow to me. Ayat stayed for 10 days with us after her sentence. The night before her sentensing Jalila and I prepared a basket full of whatever we could find for her use: plates, potato chips, etc. Ayat opened the basket and said "Aunty" (that was how she called me) I do not need them, because I'm going out." But Ayat couldn't sleep that night. I had a court session on the same day. In the morning before she left she said with great sadness "Aunty I didn't sleep last night." I said "If they are taking you don't go before I see you ."

On the 13th of July, I was back from court and Jalila was alone and Ayat didn't come back. The place was empty of her laughter and sweetness (Rula cried as she described the scene) and at that instance me and Jalila took an oath that we will not leave prison without each other whatever happened .

I relived the experience of cell mates leaving, to where exactly I don't know. Is it out of these bars or inside of them elsewhere? One time a big number of detainees was called for investigation, around 15 of the medical staff. I was afraid they would be taken to the torture chambers again. Poor women. But I hid my concern over them. I assured Nada Dhaif as she collapsed while she cried, fearing the torture again. I hugged her and alleviated her fears "they're being released. Don't worry ."

That very night as I was cleaning, the high ranking policewoman along with another policewoman came to me and said "I have news that might upset you." I wondered what it was! She said "All the girls will be released." She thought I would be sad or react since I was not among them, but I was extremely happy. I looked at her happily and said "Bless your heart. Thank you for the good news" She looked at me with surprise and said "So you won't be sad? You won't cry? You won't yell?" I said: This is the best news I could hear. I thanked God three times and knelt in gratitude .

Hunger Strike

Jalila Al Salman and I decided to go on hunger strike at the end of July. We wanted to send a message to the outside and to the whole world that we protest our imprisonment and maltreatment. Water was our only form of nutrition. Jalila fell unconscious a number of times; she would be taken to the hospital and brought back to continue her strike. I would give her encouragement and support, and help her out as much as I could by cleaning the ward while she was sleeping so that she would not exhaust herself, knowing that she has heart problems. We ended the hunger strike after ten days when the prison administration allowed family visits and we felt an improvement in our treatment. The hunger strike also had an effect by sending a message to Bassiouni's (Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry's) team that visited us in jail. A week later Bassiouni visited us himself .

Bassiouni's Visit

We knew that Bassiouni was going to visit when the Bahraini and Saudi flags that invaded the place were taken out. They pulled posters of King Abdulla (Abu Mutib as they liked to call him), and started cleaning the wards that we usually cleaned. One time they said (Abu Mutib) was visiting Bahrain, and so they were giving out green and red colored candy that we didn't eat .

Jalila Al Salman and I started preparing for Bassiouni's visit. At night we got hold of a pen and paper, and started penning all the violations against us, that we later on passed on to him. He promised us that we were going to be released, as well as the male medical staff. After the setup of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry conditions started improving, such as new blankets rather than our own towels that we covered ourselves with, however, they later gave us dirty smelly blankets that were used by prior inmates .

Paulo Coelho's Literature

In August we started seeing other improvements. We were allowed to read local newspapers such as Al Watan, Al Bilad, and sometimes Akhbar Al Khaleej, but Al Watan was the primary one. One time my husband brought in Alwasat but they denied it of me. There was no way Al Wasat was let in there. I was allowed to read novels and literature such as Paulo Coelho, and some of Gabriel Marquees' novels in English that I asked my husband to get from my own library at home though. I started reading (Witch of Portobello). I read the story in a short time as I was passionately enjoying it, specially that Coelho is fascinated by hope and spiritual experimentation. I would underline the sentences that caught my interest. When I was done reading a book, I would write on the first page: The Date/ Cell Number 2/ National Security, before I would give it back to my husband, but the social worker there thought that it was a secret code and she also opposed that I mention "National Security" . She got me angry so I said "So what, for goodness sake? The name became generic now." I could not bear something sentimental being taken away from me so I tore the first page in front of her face and threw the book .

I had an order to arrest you

In late July, during the hunger strike, a policewoman walked into the cell and asked: where is Rula Al Saffar? I answered: yes? She asked are you fine? I replied: I'm fine thank god. How is your health? She asked. Good, I replied and she left. She was a new policewoman brought in from another police station .

Three days before I left that same policewoman came to me to confess: in May I received orders to arrest you, so I went to the faculty of Health Sciences and I was told you had been arrested long ago. At that time I wanted to take you to Riffa police station because of a complaint against you from someone in East Riffa. I thanked god for not going to Riffa police station as I was aware that torture there often leads to death. That moment made me feel that I was in a safe place; that I was under the protection of the my prayers.

My Freedom.. Finally

In prison rules prisoners are released on Sundays and Wednesdays. On Sunday 21st of August 2011 a police officer came up to me and said: we are taking you to military court. I refused: I'm not going out. She left then came back and said the same thing, and I insisted on my stance, I'm not leaving without a lawyer. She said "you might be released?" I added another condition "and I'm not leaving without Jalila either , go to the highest ranking official and tell him that I'm not moving without her. She left and came back again: you're going out together. We were so happy yet we asked to hire an attorney, since we did not know what would go wrong and could go back to square one. Who knows? Then we called our lawyers and family we were taken to the military court and we heard a long lecture about what not to do. A long list of ‘Do not’s and obligations such as: do not talk to the media and do not talk to the newspapers. We signed those documents. They said: smile, you're being released. We could not believe that we were standing in front of a camera taking pictures of us in a free space. That picture was the headline picture for Alwasatonline newspaper. After that we were amazed by the large number of people in a Ramadan afternoon celebrating our release outside. I was at the prison doorstep when I received the first call congratulating me on my release from Dr. Yousif Mousa in Ghaza, then another from Egypt, then from my dear friend Khola Mattar, and from Bahrain Sheikh Ali Salman .

My white hair

I knew that I had I lost a lot of weight, and my white hair appeared in full, as I had the opportunity once to take a quick glance in the mirror, but when I saw myself in the mirror at home I was surprised to see my thin body, from my new look. Is this Rula? I saw an elderly person that looked like me, after what seemed like years in a dark prison. I knew my hair was turning white but not that much. Everyone who saw me saw a replication of my pain and heartache. I touched my body, inspecting my muscles that I thought I had built with exercise. Still they were there, yet weak with little flesh. My face was the same, it didn't change. Strength and resistance radiating in my features, and that made me proud. Maybe my eyes were less glittery, but that's ok. It would all come back again once life was back. I was not embarrassed by my looks or gray hair. I did not think it was something to be ashamed of. That face specifically got out to people that was captured by camera, I am proud of. It is a translation of my pain and determination in prison .

Leading personality

Rula topped 13 Bahrainis in the 500 most powerful Arabs list for 2012, according to Arabian Business Magazine on Sunday 10th June 2012. She says in that regards: For people celebrating that award, I wish to dedicate this achievement to the innocent medical staff and the Bahraini people, to the agonized mothers of the dead (her eyes welled up in tears, her face became red, as she spoke passionately and sincerely) to my fellow prison mates, to the political leaders behind bars, the widowed, the orphans, the ones that died from torture, I am them. I also dedicate this award to the ones I was locked up with as I became very attached to them, especially Jalila Al Salman and Ayat Al Qurmuzi. I made a promise to myself when I was in prison that I would tell the story of our resistance against injustice and inhumanity. Just as people read Suha Bechara's courageous journey, we will also read , about an astounding victory just as Bahrain Mirror is covering the Bahraini people's fight for freedom through its February 14 2011 revolution .

Advice

with Suha Beshara in Geneva

In prison we learned the art of patience in everything. We were aware that the purpose of imprisonment was to break our will. That was the main role of the prison guards; that was their job. But we got out just as we got in, or rather stronger and harder to break. I saw that at least in the prisoners that were close from me. Jalila Al Salman, Ayat Al Qurmuzi, and others. The hardest thing there is the first slap. When a hard heavy hand lands on your face, full of hate and rage, among insults. It is very hard to understand. The psychological pain is far greater than the physical pain at that moment. When your dignity is abused, by a low denigrated individual, a criminal really. That first hit is really painful, but then you get used to the beatings wherever they were. We would get over the psychological pain and emotional abuse. We would pick ourselves up back again, looking at the glass full, to the freedom outside where normal humans are. We would face the experience in a positive manner, with strong belief that our demands are just. Prayers, especially at night, those spiritual doctrines that I mentioned were for our souls. Maybe we won't forget the pain just because it was it was too high, but we would not allow it to get to us or take pity on ourselves, or else they win. If they break us, they get what the regime wants .

A Message To The Prisoner Suha Bechara

Today I wish to send a pure message of gratitude to the free and proud Suha Bechara. I am very eager to meet her and that her. (Again her eyes get glossy and tries to talk) I want to see her and tell her you saved me from death. I walked in your path, in your painful imprisonment. I am happy and lucky to had read your book two years before I was imprisoned. It was present in my memory enough to recount it. I benefited from your experience beyond imagination. If you read this message please ask Bahrain Mirror about me. About Bahrain's Suha Bechara. I would be honored to meet you .

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References

• Rula Al Saffar ranked number 11 in the 500 most powerful Arabs list for 2012, according to Arabian Business Magazine on Sunday 10th of June 2012. She was the first among 13 Bahrainis.
• She was one of the Bahraini Medical Team that was sentenced for 15 years of imprisonment during the National Safety law in response to the events in Bahrain during 2011. She spent 156 days in prison. A civilian court ruling judged that she was innocent afterwards in 14 June 2012.
• Book Title: Resistance by Suha Bechara, published in 2000 by Dar Al Saqi publishing house. It tells the story of Bechara’s plight and experiences in the infamous Kheyam prison in south Lebanon for 10 years.

• Link to part 1
• Link to part 2
• Link to part 3
• Link to part 4
• Link to part 5
• Link to the Arabic copy