A Patient's Diary

By Habib B. Qounin

Excerpts

Today at 4 in the morning, while sleeping in my hospital bed, police came to wake me up with an immigration officer, the security chief, a rude hospital P.R.O. officer and two ambulance attendants. They asked me to take my luggage and come with them, because they had a plane ticket for me and my renewed passport.

The officer in charge of humanitarian affairs in the hospital sent the police to my bed at 4 in the morning to put me on a plane back to Morocco while I was in very poor health.

Patient's Diary

By Habib B. Qounin

Monday 11 June 2007

After the doctor's round of the morning, he advised that some scooping should be done the following day.After the nurse had taken care of the dressing I laid on my bed to relax from the morning routine activities.

By noon I was visited by the lady in charge of humanitarian services at the hospital. She came into my room and informed me that my ex employer would hire me again, because they had some writing assignments for me. She added that the department of economic development was working on my visa and my residency, adding that I would have to take a round trip on the same plane to the neighboring country so that the visa can be prepared according to the rules of the country. Pleased with the good news, I thanked her for her kindness, help and support and mostly for the good news.

As soon as she left I called my little daughter in Morocco and informed her that my ordeal was over and that in few weeks I would be able to pay her schools tuition that she had been asking about for some time.

I was so pleased that I decided to move in my wheel chair to visit another ward where I had dialysis because of kidney failure; perhaps I will have to be dialyzed again today. In the corridor of the ward, I heard a Filipino nurse telling her colleagues that I was going to be discharged to travel to Morocco tomorrow and that it was necessary that a machine be ready for my dialysis this afternoon.

Shocked, I returned to my bed. My goodness, the lady who is in charge of humanitarians affairs, and who should be more than human, then lied to me! I could not believe it, so I called my ex employer's office and asked an officer if there was anything that they may need to finish the procedure of my visa. The man was surprised and informed me he knew nothing on the subject.

Now I was sure that the inhuman Humanitarian Services officer lied to me and was planning something.

I was confused; I didn't know who to believe, so I took my dinner and went to bed. I will see what will happen tomorrow, the only thing I am sure about is the small operation to be performed on my foot, and that is the most important thing for me now.

Tuesday June 12, 2007

Today at 4 in the morning, while sleeping in my hospital bed, police came to wake me up with an immigration officer, the security chief, a rude hospital P.R.O. officer, two security agents and two ambulance attendants. A real crowd. They asked me to take my luggage and come with them, because they had a plane ticket for me to my country Morocco and my renewed passport. I had to leave for my home country, Morocco, right away.

This was a very strange request at 4 a.m. I hadn't been back to Morocco in 16 years traveling in Europe, U.S.A and the Middle East, and had been hospitalized for more than 2 of those years. I wondered why this request of leaving came at this moment, so  suddenly and without any time for preparation.

I informed the guys that I could not travel under my present conditions, which included being in a wheel chair. This was not the proper way to release a patient of over two years, never mind the fact that I was living in a remote country.

It was all rushed. I explained that I needed time to pay my bills, dress properly and collect my belongings. Furthermore I was having necessary surgery that morning in my right foot. If I didn't get the operation my whole foot would become infected before I even reached Morocco and would end up being amputated...

They said they didn't care and insisted that I had to leave. I refused of course. How can anyone travel under these conditions? I was in a wheel chair, my clothes in the laundry and they wanted me to fly out that night. Who would pick me up at the airport without being notified? With my family more than 600 kilometers away from Morocco Casablanca airport the whole situation was an impractical mess.

They tried and tried, and warned to use violence, until 6 a.m. The officials finally gave up, because I missed my flight time. Instead they confiscated my luggage, laptop and mobile phone charger so I couldn't contact anyone to inform them of the absurd ordeal in this Arab country because they know I am a writer and journalist, and a media man.

Once I got hold of a phone, I called my former employer, the Department of Economic Department, where I held a job with the government here as Senior Editor. I asked them to help me recuperate my luggage, or at least my computer from the hospital human services worker.

I received my personal effects and went to use my laptop where I worked on the update of the content of my newspaper and on a story about Madeleine MacCann, a girl who was kidnapped in Portugal and seen spotted by a tourists in Marrakesh in Morocco.

Same day, 9. am

During the doctor's rounds to check the patients, they took a look at the wound on my right diabetic foot and decided that it needed some scooping to clean the dry tissue so the wound could heal properly. After two hours of waiting for the doctor she finally came and did a good cleaning. Then the nurse applied the dressing and I felt better but not secure after the event of the early morning.

At night, I could not sleep properly. I was expecting the officials again, but this time I may had an anesthesia injection during my sleep and they could just take me to the airport. These people can commit any stupidity and I could not trust these lying people any more.

Tuesday 19 June.

Doctor Bassam checked my wound during his daily rounds and was satisfied with the progress. He informed me that in one week's time I may undergo plastic surgery as the final stage of the treatment. I was pleased with the progress.

A Half an hour later and for the first time since my ordeal started in 1998; the Moroccan Embassy in Abu Dhabi contacted me. The speaker spoke kindly and informed me that the chief of police in Dubai had contacted the Embassy to ask me to cooperate and go back to Morocco. I informed him that I love my country and I want to be there now, but  not until my wound healed and I could leave the wheel chair.

What happened today is unbelievable. For more than nine years, I wrote to the Embassy. I requested help and assistance in my ordeal. I asked them to send someone to talk to in my dire need for help, but no response, no action; no interest, nothing. Now these officials have contacted me to only get rid of me while I am still in critical health.

Sunday 17 June

I was contacted by Sharjah Radio Station, via their daily program "direct transmission". The program broadcasts live  conversations to discuss citizens and resident's various administrative and social problems. The program host listens to the caller's complaint and then  he tries to contact an officer or administrator in charge to find a solution to the citizen's roblem.

I explained my problem to the host and how the officer in charge of humanitarian affairs in the hospital sent the police to my bed at 4 in the morning to put me on a plane back to Morocco while I was in very poor health. Without informing me in advance I had no time to prepare for the trip and refused to leave my bed.

The host understood my complaint. He asked me to stay on the line ntil he could contact the humanitarian officer of the hospital and listen to his side of the story. I agreed.

Suddenly, I found in front of me in my hospital room, the officer incharge of the humanitarian affaires. She looked very angry. I understood then that she has not taken the line to speak to the radio program host. She blamed me for contacting the media and exposing my case publicly. Then she confiscated my mobile phone I was using to talk to the station.

At 3:30 in the afternoon after the end of the radio program security agent came to my room and returned my mobile phone.

26 June 2007-Today morning at 4 a.m, nobody came to drag me to the airport like two weeks’ ago. I felt a little bit secure.

By 9 a.m, and during the doctors’ round, Dr. Bassam was satisfied with the development of my foot. He informed me that I can relax now after he received a phone call from the administration inquiring about my health. He told them that for the moment I am not fit to make a long journey to Morocco. Now I am relieved.

25 June 2007-Two weeks ago it was the 4 a.m incident to take me by force and violence, as they said, to the airport. Tomorrow again this may happen, we will see.

I received a call by 9 a.m from my ex employer informing me that a ticket is ready for me “again” for tomorrow to leave. I informed him that I will not leave the hospital until I feel fit to travel and also until I get my personal belongings and effects from the apartment I used to live in. He advised me to contact for this subject the landlord or the lawyer.

At 10 a.m, at last I get hold of the lawyer.

What I need, I told him, is just my documents, university diplomas, letters of recommendations, training certificate, my diaries, my family photo albums, my corresponds, articles I published since 1993, paper edition achieves of my English language newspaper from issue one until I left Morocco and my CDs, cassettes, VHS, most of them educational and computer programs and nobody will take them or buy them because they have a moral and personal value and no material value. I also informed him that I do not need other items, equipments, machines, stereos, TV, Video, Frigidaire and alike.

I remember when my house was confiscate by the court’s order because of non payment of the rent. It happened after the landlord had opened a case against me and the court decided to confiscate all my belongings and asked me to leave the house immediately.

Before I leave, a court agent with a policeman estimated my stereo I bought last year for 5000 dirhams as it costs for them 50 dirhams, because they intend to sell some house machines on auction to pay a part of the due rent. This was the case for most consumable electronic items. I asked them about the remaining personal effects like my documents and books. They informed me these will of course be returned to me after the case is closed and the full amount of the pending rent is paid.

I informed them that my eyes are completely closed because of vitreous hemorrhage, so they have to wait until I arrange another place to stay. They informed me that they have an order to close the house now and that what they will do. This is what they have done and I found myself in the street.

Today, after two and a half years in hospital, I want to go back to my country, and what I need is my personal belongings. The lawyer informed me coldly that some consumable items were sold on auction and the rest has been thrown away.

I had b big shock, then I recovered and I informed him: “You know, this should never happen not only because of the law of the country but also the law of the universe. If the landlord or you decided to get rid of personal effects, well you or he has just to call me, and you have my phone number, and I will send someone to recuperate them, you know they have an important moral value for me.”

He told me he will check again with the land lord and come back to me in one hour’s time. He never did.

I again contacted the officer in my ex employer’s office and before I explain the matter he asked me that he will call me later. He never did.

To be continued

Readers' comments:

From Larry Taylor Productions: June 12, 2007
Good Afternoon, Habib, I read your journal this morning about the unfair and inhumane treatment they put your through is absolutely appalling!. It makes my blood boil to hear of such treatment! Have they no shame? no respect for the sick or injured? The sooner you are back in Morocco the better as you do not need to be in such an unfriendly country as to have been put through such a terrible ordeal! I wish with all my heart that I could do something for you, my dear friend

Those who sleep do no sin!

I don't like the way the police disturbed my friend Habib B. Qounin’s sleep Wensday night. When sleeping we all have our demons to fight, we don’t need the police to disturb our dreams. Those who sleep do no sin!

Habib B. Qounin is a venerable editor, he has important work to do and need the best sleep and treatment possible.

It’s my hope the police in future will do everything they can to protect Habib B. Qounin’s  good sleep and support his work.

Niels Hav
http://80.175.160.225/alarabpreviouspdf/Arab%20Weekly/2007/06/06-09/w23.pdf
http://www.icorn.org/articles.php?var=52

Mick U.K: Wow, who where these people and do you know why. Keep me informed

HABIBI

C'EST UNE HONTE POUR TOUTE L'HUMANITE...

UN MALADE QUI DORME A 4 H DU MATIN LES FLICS LE REVEILLENT...

DANS UN PAYS ARABE ET MUSULMAN ET AMI DU MAROC...

ALLAH YARHAM CHEIKH ZAID... LE PERE DES EMIRATIS QUE TOUS LES MAROCAINS AIMENT ET RESPECTENT AUSSI

UN VILLAGE A MARRAKECH A ETE CONSTRUIT PAR AL MARHOUM CHIKH ZAID POUR TOUS LES TRAVAILLEURS MAROCAINS QUI TRAVAILLAIENT CHEZ LUI A MARRAKECH CE VILLAGE S'APPELLE ENCORE "DOUAR AL IMARATES"

AL MARHOUM CHIKH ZAID PAYAIT TOUTES LES FACTURES D'EAU ET D'ELECTRICITE POUR TOUS LES HABITANTS DE CE DOUAR.

MAIS APRES SA MORT : PERSONNE NE PAIE PLUS RIEN A CES PAUVRES HABITANTS ET APRES QUE LEURS DETTES DE CONSOMMATIONS D'EAU ET D'ELECTRICITE N'ONT PAS ETE REGLEES : LE COURANT ELECTRIQUE ET L'EAU ONT ETE COUPES POUR TOUS LES ABONNES DU DOUAR AL IMARATES QUI VIENT ACTUELLEMENT DANS LE NOIR ABSOLU ET SANS EAU

RESISTE ET DEMANDE TES DROITS COURRAGESEMENT NOUS SOMMES TOUS AVEC TOI

IL FAUT ME CONTACTER S'IL Y A DU NOUVEAU NEGATIF

JE VAIS METTRE LE MONDE ENTIER AU COURANT

A TRAVERS TOUS LES JOURNAUX ET LES ORGANISATIONS HUMANOTAIRES ET DES DROITS DE L'HOMME ET PRESSE SANS FRONTIERES

Habiboka

Ben: I'm so sorry to hear about this, Habib. How's things now?

Bi_saraha@yahoo.com: I think it is time to transfer Mr. Qounin for treatment to another country by a humanitarian organisation.

Alissa: What a sad story, I have tears in my eyes, what kind of people are these?
 

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