Sufferance When the
Conscience Dies
By : Ie'tiraf Rimawi
These are fleeting days. Some read what they
wrote days and months ago. Others say .. years ago. Yes, time has no meaning
here.
It is not a precious commodity in this environment
of incarceration. It is a worse enemy. It lies in waiting. [No] it is standing
like a fearsome wild animal, showing us its fangs, waiting to devour us.
Strangeness characterizes its constant bends and twists. The future is
bleak, unknown. Why? When? Where? Then we hear the cries, the call for
help [as when one awaits a blessed rain (2)]. Where are you, O people who
stand for human rights, and abide by international laws. What are we in
your eyes? Where is your conscience with respect cause: the cause of those
incarcerated for no reason? Where is your stand against fascism and nazism?
Where is your stand against lawlessness? No one answers. All hear, see,
but are silent. As if our cause nullifies the meaning of human rights and
the right to live as free men. Why? 'til when? Answer O callers for justice
and the rule of law. O protectors of human rights .. O callers for the
grounding of the pillar of peace, hear our voice.
By Prisoner : I`tiraf ar-Rim Awi .
(3) Third Year, Birzeit University
.
Sentence: 6 Months Administrative
Detention
Sijn (4) Meggido 28 July 1997
Lexis:
(1) Mu`taqal: prisoner of conscience. From
I`taqala (v.): to emprison someone. Related words: `aqala (v.) to hitch
(one's she-camel); `aql (brain/reason as in `aql and naql _reason_ and
_text_ a common terminology of theosophy in the language of the Arabs);
Mu`taqal (same form as the above): concentration camp; `aqilah (wife, usually
used to designate wives of dignitaries and the 'Special Class'); `Iqal:
A head-dress commonly worn in the Mashriq, the Arab East.
(2) The Arabic word used for `call for help'
is _istighathah_ (to seek help) from A_GH_[A]_TH[A] (v.): To give help;
GHAYTH: Rain. The meaning is then clear as to the cultural context of the
word given the desert origin of the language.
(3) Rim: Arabic for Gazelle; a common beautiful
name used for girls.
(4) Sijn: Prison
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