Life being married to a control order detainee by Dina Al Jnidi – Wife of Mr. Mahmoud Abu Rideh
It is still fresh in my mind the day the police came to arrest my husband, it was the 19th of December 2001. I don’t think I will ever be able to forget that day – They (the police) broke down the door, forced their way into our home whilst I was still in my night dress. The police pointing their guns in my face and the children’s faces. There were many police, around 30 armed. They forced my husband to the floor, handcuffed him pressing down on his back and neck with their knee’s as he screamed in pain – they yelled “shut up you F***ing terrorist”. I implored with the police that my husband suffers from back pain. All this taking place in view of my children who are terrified; they are crying, shaking many of them had wet themselves – frightened, terrified. The police took my husband away – where I do not know. They took me and my children and placed us in a hostel; they want to search our home.
After 2 days we were allowed to return to our house. The local newspaper had taken pictures of our home, the headlines read something to the effect “terrorist raid”. Following this article in the newspaper I forcibly had my face veil removed three times. We also had people throw rubbish at our front door.
40 days had passed, I still did not know where my husband was. I called the police, Scotland Yard, immigration – no one told me where my husband was.
Eventually I swapped my home as our neighbours had resorted to spitting at me. Prior to the arrest of my husband and the raid on our home we had never had any trouble with any of our neighbours – we had previously enjoyed a normal relationship with them. The police have caused this problem which led to our victimisation.
After I discovered that my husband was in Belmarsh prison I went to visit him. I discovered that he was on a hunger strike. The visit was a closed visit, which means that neither I nor my children could touch my husband. The children were unable to hug or hold their father, to even shake his hand was not allowed! On many occasions at subsequent visits after travelling long distances in difficult circumstances we were sent back without being allowed to see him. My husband does not speak English well, but was not allowed to speak Arabic on visits (eventually this was allowed for one visit out of four).
My husband used to call and on many occasions would be crying due to the torture, the discrimination he was facing. My children too would cry. The effect of all this torture, discrimination, and detention without charge or trial – drove my husband insane, angry, and psychologically mad. Never before was he like this, he was a normal person – a normal husband, a normal father – a normal person. Due to his mental state he was transferred to Broadmoor High Security Mental prison. A place for very dangerous high risk people. Whilst at Broadmoor he was frequently attacked by staff, nurses and other prisoners. I could not visit him whilst he was there, I tried but whenever I went there I was told he was in isolation, in solitary confinement. Broadmoor prison was very far from our home, it was very difficult travelling with 5 children only to be sent back home to be told your husband is in isolation.
It was around this time that my husband began to self harm. He drank detergents, he used pens to dig deep into his arms.
In 2005 my husband was released, we were only given 2 hours notice before his arrival. We were pleased to have him back home, but did not know the full extent of the conditions that were placed on him. I did not know what a control order was. He had to wear an electronic tag around his ankle. He had to report by telephone by special equipment that had been placed in our home several times a day (including during the middle of the night). We were not allowed to have a digital camera in the home, as well as basic other items such as; USB sticks, memory cards, MP3 players. Our children were not allowed to use internet or have a computer. We were not allowed visitors unless they had been cleared by the home office having to go through a rigorous vetting procedure. Many of them would not even call for fear of being harassed by the police or worse.
My husband was a wreck a shattered man, he could not sleep, he would be sweating, shaking, he would have nightmares and flashbacks. It was almost impossible to deal with him, he was ill and had complex psychological needs – I am not a trained nurse he required specialist help. One week later he attempted suicide by taking an overdose on a cocktail of his depression and anti-psychotic medications. I found him on the floor unconscious, in a pool of vomit foam coming from his mouth. He was taken to the hospital and remained unconscious for 3 whole days.
My life is ruined, I cannot sleep, I cry so much – it is all having an effect on my children. This all I blame on Tony Blair, the House of Lords, the Queen, the Politicians, Parliament! They all have a hand in this.
I AM BRITISH! As are all my children! Why then is it acceptable for us to be treated in this manner? How many times the police came to search my home, violate the sanctity that is a home. What do they expect to find amongst my children’s and my clothes? The confiscated money, Nintendo Wii, Playstation, PSP. The Nintendo Wii a gift from my husband’s solicitor for the children. None of these items despite numerous requests have ever been returned to us. Why? Are my children not allowed to things as everyone else’s children are?
Even irrelevant documents the police have confiscated – birth certificates, school reports, and car Log book, and MOT certificates; for what, of what significance or benefit are these?
I was at breaking point, I could take no more. I was pregnant expecting my 6th child. During my pregnancy the home office made things very difficult, I could not get help as people required clearance before being allowed to visit me. I had no help. How could I care for a sick husband and 5 children whilst pregnant?
I ask where is the humanity, where are all the human rights organisations.
I want to know how do the majority of the Christian members of Britain prepare and share joy at the christening of their new born children. Am I exempt from sharing my happiness with friends and family? Should I too not be allowed to show off my precious gift to others. Am I sub-human from the rest of you? I want to ask the politicians, the queen would this not affect you!
I tried to remain hopeful many times. But there is no hope. There is no court hearing for my husband, so that he can profess his innocence. He has been charged of no crime, he has not been interviewed or interrogated. He has been presumed guilty because he is Muslim, what other reason? Please explain to me and my family – why have we had to endure this treatment. Pets are treated better than we have been. Is this the humanity you profess, it this the justice you want to spread!
Judge Ousley ordered and ruled that the Home office should release to me the Secret evidence that is held against my husband, the home office appealed this decision and it has been a long time and nothing has been heard or seen.
On or around the 19th of February 2009 the European Courts of justice and European court for human rights declared that this information (secret evidence) be released to my husband and his solicitors. They said the control order should be lifted from my husband, that the secrets should be released, that he should receive compensation for his unfair treatment. What is the point of these courts if Britain makes a mockery of them and refuses to submit to their judgement.
There is no Justice, I have lost all hope of justice.
My family especially our children are scared from the police, the have suffered at the hands of the police. Their education has suffered they have not been able to complete homework, they have been at a disadvantage from the other children – as they are not allowed to access the internet. I have 3 girls in secondary school and 3 boys in primary school, I was attending college to study childcare. All of these things require computers, USB, etc.
My husband was re-arrested for alleged breaches of his control order on at least four different occasions – once for 3 months, once for 2 weeks, 1 week, 3 days, 2 days. Once for having a Nintendo Wii – A gift for our children from his solicitor. Once for having mobile phones in the home, which were toys purchased from the pound shop and not real mobiles.
We as a family are dead! We are sick to death with the police and the government’s torture of our family for 8 years. How many months is 8 years, how many weeks, how many days, how many hours? Our family have been hostage in Britain. My husband and I escaped torture at the hand of the Israelis to find worse torture in the UK. From coming to Britain as asylum seekers to now find myself in another country where I have sought asylum from the torture that Britain has placed me and my family under. I have been a hostage.
Some psychiatrists from the Home office told and advised me to divorce my husband saying that it would be better for me and my children. Scotland Yard on many occasions also told me this. What kind of twisted advice is this? Would this really be better for me and my children? Or are they looking for more reasons to drive my husband to suicide?
I have too many things to get off my chest, my heart is filled with anger. I am crying as I write this, it is all too much for me to remember. I have left my home to be in Jordan, my husband was not allowed to accompany us to the airport he is forbidden under the restrictions of his control order. Is it really likely that he can escape; he has no passport, no travel documents – where will he go? As we left our home I knew and he knew that it was probably the last time we would see one another, the last time he would see, hold, hug, and kiss his children. I had to watch my children crying at the thought of never seeing their father again. However I had no choice, I have been forced to leave. Perhaps now I can try to repair the damage done to my children, the emotional scars they will bear for how long I do not know. I can finally try to rid myself of the effects of the ‘Terrorist Act’ the police, Scotland Yard the searches, the torture I have had to witness my husband go through.
However I still fear for my husband. He is alone, I am very scared. He has made 4 suicide attempts – each time he has been serious. However Allah (God) has not willed that he be successful.
The British public and government complain about the effects of immigration and asylum seekers in the UK. About people coming to the UK and claiming benefits – well then why do you force my husband to remain here. He has not been charged or convicted of any crime – yet you treat him this way .
I would like to tell the British Government and the rest of the World, I would like to tell anyone who has a heart, anyone who has an ounce of humanity Please allow my husband to leave the United Kingdom. Please provide him with the necessary documentations to leave to any country. Where there may be at least some hope of seeing him again – Before I lose him for good and our children lose their father.
Mrs. Dina Al Jnidi – Wife of Mr Mahmoud Abu Rideh.
Jazak Allah khair sister.