We had a visit from the security services:
it was late at night, in the wee small hours. Everyone was fast asleep. I woke when I heard the clamor and immediately guessed what had happened.
Abu Ali, our doorman, had been awakened by someone ringing the gate, and stumbled there to look out; he thought everyone was inside, but it wouldn't be the first time that some family member or other had stayed out far too late at a cafe ... instead, he saw two young guys in their mid twenties, clad in black leather jackets, muscular and both smoking. He knew immediately who they were and rang the alarm to wake everyone up. He was surprised when they stated who they were here for ... me ...
Meanwhile, I had a pretty strong notion when I woke up exactly what had happened. So, I pulled on my clothes as fast as I could -- the ones I have had laid out for such a moment; simple cotton underwear and t-shirt (no underwire or anything like that), jeans, loose fitting pullover ... put on my glasses and stumbled downstairs to the courtyard.
My father was already out there; he hadn't bothered to get dressed at all and was wearing just a nightshirt. He was already in animated discussion with them. When I appeared, one of them nodded, "That's her"
"Me?"
"Yes ... we need to discuss a few things with you." Oily smile that doesn't extend to the eyes.
"Like what?"
He rattles off a long list of things I have posted in English and in Arabic.
"You might have missed a few." I say, my nerves almost getting the worst of me, but, less than fully awake, I clamp down hard on the urge to flee. If I run, I know that they will shoot. I can see weapons, the bulge of pistols and likely knives under their jackets.
"We have enough," the same one says. "Conspiring against the state, urging armed uprising, working with foreign elements."
"Uh huh, which ones?"
"The Salafi plot," the other one says, his accent marks him as straight from a village in the Jebel Ansariya. "Making sectarian plots."
"Really?" my father interrupts. "My daughter is a salafi?" he starts laughing. "Look at her: can't you see that that is ridiculous? She doesn't even cover any more ... and if you have really read even half of what she has written, you know how ridiculous that is. When was the last time you heard a wahhabi, or even someone from the brotherhood say that wearing hijab is the woman's choice only?"
he pauses, they don't say anything.
"I did not think so," he goes on. "When was the last time you saw one of those write that there should be no religion as religion of teh state?"
Again nothing.
"When was the last time you saw them saying that the gays should be allowed the right to marry, a man to a man or a woman to a woman?"
Nothing.
"And when you say nothing, you show," he says, "that you have no reason to take my daughter."
They say nothing. Then one whispers something to the other, he smiles.
"Uh huh," the man says, "so your daughter tells you everything, huh?"
"Of course," my father says.
"Did she tell you that she likes to sleep with women?" he grins, pure poison, feeling like he has made a hit. "That she is one of those faggots who fucks little girls?" (the arabic he used is far cruder ... you get the idea)
My dad glances at me. I nod; we understand each other.
"She is my daughter," he says and I can see the anger growing in his eyes, "and she is who she is and if you want her, you must take me as well."
"Stupid city-fuckers," says the same guy. "All you rich pansies are the same. No wonder she ends up fucking girls and kikes" (again, the Arabic is much rawer ,,,)
He steps twoards me and puts his hand on my breast.
"Maybe if you were with a real man," he lears, "you'd stop this nonsense and lies; maybe we should show you now and let your pansy father watch so he understands how real men are."
I am almost trembling with rage. My dad moves his head slightly to tell me to be silent.
"What are you?" he says. "Did the jackal sleep with the monkey before you were born? What are your names?"
They tell him. He nods
"Your father," he says to the one who threatened to rape me, "does he know this is how you act? He was an officer, yes? And he served in ..." (he mentions exactly and then turns to the other) "and your mother? Wasn't she the daughter of ...?"
They are both wide-eyed, yes, that is right,
"What would they think if they heard how you act? And my daughter? Let me tell you this about her; she has done many things that, if I had been her, I would not have done. But she has never once stopped being my daughter and I will never once let you do any harm to her. You will not take her from here. And, if you try, know that generations of her ancestors are looking down on you. Do you know what is our family name? You do? Then you know where we stood when Muhammad, peace be upon him, went to Medina, you know who it was who liberated al Quds, you know too, maybe, that my father fought to save this country from the foreigners and who he was, know who my uncles and my brothers were ... and if that doesn't shame you enough, you know my cousins and you will leave here.
"You will leave her alone and you will tell the rest of your gang to leave her alone. And I will tell you something now because I think maybe you are too stupid to figure this out on your own. You are alawiyeen; do not deny that, I know you both are. We are Sunni. You know that. And in your offices and in your villages they are telling you that all of you must stand shoulder to shoulder now because we are coming for you as soon as we can and we will serve you as they have served ours in the land of the two rivers. So you are scared. I would be too.
"So you come here to take Amina. Let me tell you something though. She is not the one you should fear; you should be heaping praises on her and on people like her. They are the ones saying alawi, sunni, arabi, kurdi, duruzi, christian, everyone is the same and will be equal in the new Syria; they are the ones who, if the revolution comes, will be saving Your mother and your sisters. They are the ones fighting the wahhabi most seriously. You idiots are, though, serving them by saying 'every sunni is salafi, every protester is salafi, every one of them is an enemy' because when you do that you make it so.
"Your Bashar and your Maher, they will not live forever, they will not rule forever, and you both know that. So, if you want good things for yourselves in the future, you will leave and you will not take Amina with you. You will go back and you will tell the rest of yours that the people like her are the best friends the Alawi could ever have and you will not come for her again.
"And right now, you two will both apologize for waking her and putting her through all this. Do you understand me?"
And time froze when he stopped speaking. Now, they would either smack him down and beat him, rape me, and take us both away ... or ...
the first one nodded, then the second one.
"Go back to sleep," he said, "we are sorry for troubling you."
And they left!
As soon as the gate shut ,,, I heard clapping; everyone in the house was awake now and had been watching from balconies and doorways and windows all around the courtyard ... and everyone was cheering ...
MY DAD had just defeated them! Not with weapons but with words ... and they had left ...
I hugged him and kissed him; I literally owe him my life now.
And everyone came down and hugged and kissed, every member of the family, and the servants and everyone ... we had won ... this time ...
My father is a hero; I always knew that ... but now I am sure ...
and in the night we celebrated this little victory; they may come back but maybe not ...
he made a few calls in the middle of the night; woke up some people (and found some not sleeping) who are in teh regime and told them about the goons' visit. They may have consequences fall on them (which is why I do not give their names) and probably won't be sent out again ... if they haven't quit.
Maybe they will tell others; leave the 'liberals' alone ... maybe not. Only time will tell.
So, when my father says he will not leave until either democracy comes or he is dead, I have no choice but to stay. Not because he is making me, but because he is not making me.
We sent the rest away; any who can, any who will left for Beirut. I cannot go. He's staying so so will I.
208 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 208 Newer› Newest»God bless you both, and all your family and your village, for your courage and your loyalty to your beautiful country - I am not from there but it has welcomed me - your people have welcomed me - like a daughter on many occasions. Thank you so much for sharing. -lili, an honorary Syrian from across the sea
Amina please stay safe what a wonderful father you have. I am going to be posting your blog around I want many people to read it. Thank your dad and you for just being you. The world supports the people of Syria and are right behind you and your family.
A friend of mine in Malta send me the link of your log, dear Amina. 7amdillah 3ala al-salameh!
Your father is a hero, indeed.
I cannot but advise that all of you be safe. Not sure you are safe in Damascus nowadays. The same mukhabarat thugs may be back or send others who will not listen to common sense.
Maybe you should be in Beirut for a while...
Anyhow, you know best. If you need any support or advise do not hesitate to contact me.
I am independent Lebanese pro-democracy activists who set up Greenpeace Lebanon in 1995-1999 and the Arab Human Rights Fund in in 2008-2010 (we supported Arab LGBT groups).
Salamat,
Fouad Hamdan
www.fouadhamdan.org
http://fouadhamdan.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/people/Fouad-Hamdan/541221429
THANKS!
Amina, please, let me know if you want to contact me. many many thanks!
This made me cry, in a good way.
As a lesbian mother in the US who, with my wife, owns a media relations firm that focuses on LGBT civil and human rights, I just want you to know that you have a job in the States with us if you ever want one :-)
Check out our work and bios: www.rennacommunications.com
Amazingly courageous not only by your dad but also by you or you would not have posted this today. May peace be with you and no harm come to you. Now my soul is starting to worry about someone I did not even know existed a few minutes ago. But people who stand up for their rights with dignity and pride will always feel togetherness. We are concerned now too and hope the wise speech of your father will have lastingly conquered the ignorance that scared you. Stay safe!
Please be safe amina!
لا أحد يستحق أن يخاف من الدقات على الباب في منتصف الليل فقط لكونه مختلفا
http://www.rennacommunications.com/work
Renna Communications should not be boasting about their record promoting human rights, considering that they chose to represent Jerusalem WorldPride thus assisting the State of Israel to whitewash the human rights violations that the Israeli occupation has been committing against Palestine and Palestinians since 1948.
All people deserve to have the full rights accorded to them as human beings and deserve to not have to go to bed wondering when the knock on the door comes. Renna Communications compromised their integrity as human rights advocates in 2005 when they ignored universal human rights by accepting the WorldPride contact.
Wow. Amina....I cant find the words to express myself after reading your post which brought tears to my eyes.
As far as we can see, and read, in the rest of the world, all of you who are fighting for democracy are Heroes. Especially those who died for it.
I pray that you get democracy soon before many more are killed and many more suffer.
Enough with dictators.
May God bless you and keep you safe. Tom, from Toronto Canada
I don't want a discussion about our firm to take away from the power and intent of this blog post.
In response however, I will say that there were a, to put it mildly, wide range of opinions about World Pride's decision to hold the 2006 event in Jerusalem.
Our firm exists to promote the human and civil rights of *all* people, but with a special focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people throughout the world, regardless of faith, race or nationality.
Amina, I would love to talk with you directly about this blog post. I am a blogger for Huffington Post and would be interested in getting it published there with full attribution to you. Is there an email where I can contact you? Please feel free to contact me via the inquiry option on our website. You can also find me on Twitter as @alphaleah
I've just discovered your (amazing) blog. I don't know you, but reading your post moved me in an incredibly deep way. You and your family set an example of courage, devotion and humanity that every one of us should follow. Je te souhaite beaucoup de courage, en attendant des jours meilleurs. Merci.
That was an incredible story and amazing to see it made it all the way back to the U.S. (i'm in New York City) and have so many people read. You truly do have a wonderful father and from the reading, a great family.
Be safe and wise with everything you post on here and remember, if you can't say it now, you will be able to one day. Damascus will get better in time and nothing stays the same.. Be safe and you are in my prayers and many of us in the U.S.
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thanks, dear...your father is also my hero...and you, an inspiration
Y3tikum, inte w abouki, alf 3fieh.
Wow... what a moving and beautiful story.
THANK YOU ALL!
:D
I can be emailed through the blog, btw
Hi Amina,
I'm a Washington Post reporter and I would love to interview you, if you have a few minutes today. I can't find a place to email you through the blog. Can you please contact me at elizabeth.flock@washingtonpost.com ?
Thanks so much,
Elizabeth
You have an amazing and courageous father - give him a big hug from me!
Best wishes from the UK
I also cannot figure out how to email you through the blog. Can you email me at alphaleah at gmail dot com? Thanks! Leah
Support from Beirut. This nightmare will finish soon. It's a matter of time. Endurance!
Thank you for sharing your story. The courage shown by you, your father and all the protesters is inspiring. Stay safe!
If Tehila, the GLBT parents' support group here in Tel Aviv had an honorary membership, your father would be my nominee (unless it endangered his life). You are a lucky girl.
no Amina A, thank you for writing this and more.
wow. this is intense. brought me to tears. i pray that you stay safe and that your family is safe. GIANT hug for your father and yourself.
Amina, a few of the people who have made their way onto this page likely came from the Facebook pages of myself and my partner, Cathy. I am so happy that your words are getting out into the wider world. I look forward to the possibility of corresponding with you. My email is above. Leah
How powerful to read this! The courage and eloquence of STANDING UP! I even commend the outrageous imposters for being BIG ENOUGH to let go, to listen, to become humble. I hope for them they can make room in their lives to enter more deeply the door of learning that your father opened so generously for them. And I thank you, for opening such doors of learning for all of us, by sharing your story so eloquently.
i am 9th generation israeli and i can only say that the admiration i have for the syrians and the egyptians is one that i wish i could have again for my fellow israelis. luckily, our regime is not one we need to rise up against. unluckily, it has brought us the complacency of the timid. pay no heed to those who fear that your democracy will bring about our downfall. they are cowards who fear their own downfall - not that of their state. i only wish we could play a part in this historical upheaval that would make you as proud of us - your neighbors - as we should be of you.
Thanks, good luck!
I'm cheering you and your father! Words are powerful! Now they're reaching even further!!
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing your story. You and your father are lucky to have each other. I am first generation Lebanese queer living in the US. I'd love it if you read my blog as well http://pitainaslicebreadworld.blogspot.com/
With Love & Respect,
Gilda
Im happy for you but if you weren't from a rich and privileged family it would be much worse.
Words are only powerful in rich hands.
Your father is a brave, wonderful man, and you are very right to be proud of him. I am proud of him, and he's not even my own father. This post brought me to tears, it just...
It gives me hope. For people like those goons, for people like my very conservative Christian parents who try to understand but never quite manage it, for people like me and you. You give me courage, simply for writing this blog, and your father gives me hope.
All gods bless you, Amina, and your family. May you be safe and prosper. Love and prayers from New York,
Rebecca Rose
Powerful and courageous and admirable and generally amazing.
Peace and Blessings, from far away in Canada...
Your heart and courage strengthens the future for us all, together as a human family.
Thankyou to your father, and to you.
May all your days be joyous in this new world.
Love be with you.
Increíble. Mi corazón esta con ustedes.
Amina, your story is powerful, your writing really moving. I've read every single one of blog entries. You are truly gifted. Best of luck during these exciting times of change. And a shout out to your brave father. Cheers, from Washington DC
Amina, God bless you and your brave father. May it be the divine will that you, through your virtues and courage, merit to see the new Syria flourish in peace and prosperity, that all your endeavors meet with success and you raise up hope for all your people. May you be a worthy successor to such a father.
God bless from Chicago
(and for what it's worth, from a Jewish woman)
What a wonderful man your father is! My heart and prayers are directed towards Syria right now, and reading your blog strengthens my hope that peace will come to your region because most people want it. You are doing so much to combat fear and hatred with your writing, keep it up, you're brilliant!
I look forward to reading more...
Amina, your story brought me to tears. Stay strong, and stay safe.
Wow. What fantastic courage - both you and your father. May you all stay safe.
I can't say that I've often felt such deep pride and admiration for two complete strangers. Amidst an onslaught of such profoundly disheartening news from the Middle East (I myself am in Sana'a right now, where a massacre took place just hours ago), your post is raw and beautiful humanity. Please hug your father for me and take care of yourself. The new Syria needs you both.
Your father is a hero but so are you, both of you are, for the courage of your convictions and your desire for peace and unity. I am so glad you and your family are safe! Thank you for sharing such a frightening but ultimately wonderful story.
Thank you so much for a powerful and heartening glimpse into two great souls.
"She is not the one you should fear; you should be heaping praises on her and on people like her. They are the ones saying alawi, sunni, arabi, kurdi, duruzi, christian, everyone is the same and will be equal in the new Syria."
allah ye7meeky ya amina and I hope enty w ahlek w abooky el ba6al stay strong bas kaman shwai lamma teejy syria el jdeedeh...syria al 7orra...be ezen allah.
May your story be a seed from which an ever growing tree grows that help the likes of you and me...inshallah
Thank you for sharing your story with the world. I hope that you and your family stay safe.
May Allah protect you and your family. I'm Syrian by blood, but I feel no connection to it b/c I have lived my whole life in America. But I feel closer now as the people begin to take action and try to change their home. InshaAllah you all succeed.
You, ma'am, are made of awesome - and I can see that some of that awesome is from your father as well as your mother's side.
Baruch Hashem (our equivalent of InshaAllah) your family is strong and loving. Never give up your fight for love and justice within your own culture and ways. May The Holy One Blessed Be He protect you and bless you like the Matriarchs of old - your voice must continue to cry for justice and equality.
What a father. Not everyone passes the test of being a man when the moment arises, and few do it with the nobility you describe your father's actions as demonstrating. Thank you for sharing the story
How lucky you both are to have each other. What an amazing story. I hope that you are able to continue to stay safe.
You and your father are both amazing! If there is hope for peace in this world today, it comes from people like yourselves. Please stay safe, you two!
I cried to read this. Please keep yourself and your family safe.
We are all lucky to have such fathers.
Came across this blog on Twitter - your father is amazing and clearly you are too. Thank you for writing such a powerful post.
This is a really inspiring post and your father sounds like an amazing man. Stay safe and stay strong.
<3 may you and your father and your loved ones always be safe! lovely story!
I, too, came here from Twitter and was moved by your story, and your and your father's courage. Hopefully the world's eyes upon you will play some small part in keeping you safe.
As a Canadian Jew and a human being, I wish you all peace, happiness, health and love for many years to come. I know that you live in horrible conditions and am grateful that there are people with your strength staying in your country and working to make things better. I wish you all safety and good things. I will keep you in my prayers. Your writing is very compelling as well!
Thank you for sharing your story with us all, Amina; you are both very courageous people. I wish you and your family all luck in the times ahead.
In solidarity from the UK.
I admit I got a little teary-eyed reading this; your dad is quite a man. Visited the Roman sites of your lovely country in 2008; hope to visit it again as a secular democracy one day...
P.
Moved by the courage shown by you and your father, you have one amazing dad! Stay strong, stay safe.
I can't begin to tell you how inspiring you and your father are. There is hope for peace.
I am speechless! You and your father are people that make other people believe in humanity again. God bless you and keep you safe.
This is beautiful!
You are courageous to give the world access to who you are, and to inspire the rest of us to do the same.
Wow! You and your father are inspirations! I don't know what else to say. I hope all goes well for you.
Love from Canada.
Your life ad the way you are living it is pure courage. Thank you for existing and speaking out. And your father? I didn't know fathers could love and support daughters like yours has. His love is so pure. Congratulations and please keep posting.
I applaud your heroism and that of your father, you are inspirational.
That said: GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE. Those jackals will be back, and with reinforcements, especially now that you have blogged about it. Go hide somewhere. You have done heroic service to your country, you have helped bring things to a tipping point, now go somewhere else and blog from safety. Please.
This made me happy on so many levels, from the unqualified love of a Father for his Daughter, to his acting brave in the face of the same unthinking religious violence that needs to be condemned by anyone of any religion who believes in a loving God, to the intelligence of someone who can hold her tongue while someone helps her. Those who condemn all of Islam as a violent wound upon the world, consider the wounds through history your faith's own intolerance has inflicted on countless innocents.
There are so many discouraging messages reaching and touching us in this world, the planet's tribes making insane war upon one another. Your brave father's lesson to the world, our world so connected now, is clear and strong. Now we must realize that we are all members of the only tribe that matters, united by our common humanity. I hold my best, in my thoughts and in my heart, for your safety and well being. Thank you.
Brave father, brave daughter, brave family.
Love to you all!
Wonderful post, wonderful writing.
Keep up the good work.
I saw this blog on facebook and just want you to know that I found this post inspiring. I can't do much, but I wish you luck.
I have two daughters myself. Tell your father I admire and honor him. I would like to think that I would be as brave for my girls. I hope I never have to find out. Peace to you all.
Your father is a brave man, but so are you Amina
This Christian praises our joint God for your bravery and that of your father. May He watch over and protect you and yours, both in Syria and in Beirut.
Dear Amina,
The courage, presence of mind and rationality that you and your father displayed is not only exemplary but rare. Rare indeed! Thank you for letting the world know about this. We need many more of such people like yourselves who do not shy away from the truth, fight for justice with reason and are never scared to be proud of their identity. Respects from India.
- ML
Your father bought you some time. He may not be able to save you next time. Leave. There are better places to live and more important things to do. As for Syria, let the dead bury the dead...
http://playwrighter.blogspot.com/2011/04/mahmoud-ahmadinejads-obituary.html
Your father is an incredible man, and you are very lucky to have one like him. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Amina,
I came to read your post via Global Voices, and I am absolutely amazed by your story and by the nobility and courage of your father and yourself. It so happens (if I understood what you told) that my own grand-father probably fought yours in his youth. Nevertheless, he was not a killer nor a villain and would have never lost respect to his opponents, like these two men did. The depth of the vilainy of Human nature never stops to surprise me. But fortunately the strength, virtue and nobility of some is just equally amazing. Congratulations to you for having such an awesome father.
Your courage, your father's courage, his love for you and for his country are all an inspiration. May you and your family THRIVE.
wow, so moving and powerful. it brought tears to my eyes to hear about the incredible courage and humanity of you and your father. :)
Amazing story. God bless you and your family. Especially your father!
I have no doubt your ancestors smile proudly for you both. I have nothing but deep admiration for you and your father and hope that I can grow to live up to the superior example you both have set.
Your country needs you both - And the world can learn so much from you. Thank you for sharing your story. Be safe, Live Long.
-Your new American fan.
Amina, this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your story. My prayers are with you & your family (and I'll be reading & sending good thoughts to you from my little corner of the world!)
All best wishes,
Cat
Hello Amina...I'm an Italian girl of 22 years old. I've read your story and that touched me a lot.I wish you will have good luck and I hope that your words do understand how important it is to fight for our rights and how important it is to listen to what others have to say. A big hug from Italy. Bye, Valeria.
You both are far braver than anyone we know.
Hello Amina, I don't know you, but I am going to pray tonight that you and your wonderful family continue to be safe. Your father is AMAZING, please give him a hug for me. Be safe and keep us posted on things!
Amy-Elizabeth
You, your family, and all those that stand with you are changing your corner of the world. We are all with you in spirit.
This is such an amazing story. You and your father and your family are incredibly courageous people. Thank you so much for doing what you do.
I have never seen your blog before, but there are no words for how much I admire you and your father. And this line brought tears to my eyes:
...you should be heaping praises on her and on people like her. They are the ones saying alawi, sunni, arabi, kurdi, duruzi, christian, everyone is the same and will be equal in the new Syria; they are the ones who, if the revolution comes, will be saving Your mother and your sisters.
May you, your family and all those who stand with you not only be safe, but THRIVE.
Even if wealth helps in these matters, it is still brave to step up and fight for your rights in spite of the conditions in the Middle East. I chose to leave the Middle East as it became difficult to feel comfortable there at times.
God bless you and your father for your bravery and may he bring peace to Syria and all the Middle East.
Sending Love from Los Angeles
thanks everyone! all this encouragement is amazing!
I heard this story through an italian radio: I'm moved and I express solidarity with yuou and with all the struggling people.
Tribute and respect for your heroic father!!!
[We have the same template!!]
Greetings and best wishes from Milan_ Italy
Hi Amina. I saw your blog because of a post in the guardian newspaper. I've read this post three times now and every time i read it, it reduced me to tears. you and your father are incredibly brave and you should be very proud of yourselves. I wish you all the luck in the world and only good things in life.
From London
Many free birds have twittered your brave words. I join the many voices here from the Middle East and the world that call for your safety, freedom, and peace in our time.
Let Amina Live!!! May your family be a torch to light and copy!
wow, a truly amazing and inspiring story. God bless you and your family and protect you from those goons.
Amina:
You moved me girl! You and your father are an example for all of us, Syrians. You sure brought tears to my eyes. Your story is at the heart of what most Syrians had to endure for 41 years of repression.
Here I am sitting in a Starbucks in Las Vegas, NV early saturday morning reviewing my Syrian Tweets, when I clicked on a link and there was your succint story.
My parents too had to go through the same ordeal. Unfortunately words did not matter at that time. My father's company was nationalized by the regime, his assets confiscated, some of his employees ended up in Syrian jails. And like many Syrians my parents had to flee to Beirut and had to rebuild.
Your story telling ability is profound and sincere. If the Washington Post makes an offer take it. You will make an excellent reporter.
If you would like to stay in touch: Ddecoy32@yahoo.com, Twitter: @SyriaTheFree. sorry I can't give my real name at this time so that I won't compromise the safety of my extended family in Syria.
Thank you so much.
Good story, glad to hear!
What's up with "and the servants"?
You still got servants over there??
My heart is too full for words. You and your family have such courage. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts.
From Alberta, Canada
Luck upon your endeavors there.
God bless you and keep you safe. You and yours. And your dad ROCKS.
I wish men in my country were a tenth of the men in your family!
As a straight male I have nothing but admiration for your father for his bravery. I am from the US where we have more freedom than you do in your country but I can admire bravery and love whereever I see it and in whatever form it takes. God bless you and God bless your father
Hello Amina:
I didn't expect such story! I have been following from afar what's going on in Syria, since medias are not allowed to get in, but reading you made me feel the intensity and tension you are going through in Syria!
Your father has guts! He knew what he was exposing himself and family by confronting Mokhabarat people and where this could lead. I beleive he had no choice but to save you from an eventual rape and who knows what else...
I admire his courage!
Take care of each other and be smart in your actions. Danger is real! God bless your family and all Syrians who are standing for their right to live freely! Hope this revolution will sweep the entire Globe, to free us from liars and dictators, who take advantage of their population for personal interest.
I was sent here by Fark, of all things, and all I can say is, honey, you and your dad are AWESOME. Good luck to you, and stay safe.
(Also, I'm really glad to find a new blog to read.)
May you and your family continued to walk a blessed path. May Allah continue to watch over and protect your family. You and your father are both heroes.
Dear Amina,
I am an American woman who happened upon your story. It brought tears to my eyes. How blessed you are to have such a father. This story gives me hope that someday, the enlightened and tolerant among us will outnumber those who would kill each other over minor differences in how we worship the same God. There are many, many more of us in America than our own hateful, intolerant fundamentalist christian sects realize. And it's so good to hear of like-minded peope in countries we are told hate us.
This is an amazing story- my thoughts are with you and your family. I'm subscribing to this blog.
Thank God you are alright.
Your father for is a hero. He is everything a man should be, and you are blessed beyond measure to be his daughter.
Stay safe. Our prayers are with you.
What an outstanding post this is. I teach a course at our local University on the Literature of War and I was wondering if I might have permission to reproduce your posting for my students as part of their readings? Thank you for your bravery.
Tony O'seland
oseland@nsuok.edu
Straight American Male here (since everyone seems to be identifying their background),
Your dad is fucking awesome. Please tell him that he has my highest esteem. I am just absolutely shocked that he not only attempted something so dangerous, but that he successfully sent those jackals home with words alone. Words fueled by passion, anger and a desire to protect one's own family, but words. He is most certainly a person to be admired, as are you. If I were in your situation, I do not think I'd have the courage to live openly under a regime that hated me in such a way. You are most certainly your father's daughter.
Good luck to you both.
Your heart must be filled, knowing you have this kind of father. And his heart must be filled, knowing he has raised such a daughter.
Thank you for sharing your story. For all the negative things happening in Syria, this is positive.
Positive that your dad was able to send them away with just his words. It's sad that they came for you at all. But that's another story.
Amina, I keep my fingers crossed for you here from France. I am neither muslim, nor gay, but this story reminded me of my own country during the communist rule (I am not French by origin) - the secret police was behaving in exactly the same way.
These thugs are cowards, they always attack only when they feel they have an advantage - an office, guns, physical force or just sheer numbers. Your dad is a hero - not many people have courage to stand up like that.
Good luck and keep writing!
Jan
Your father is a hero. I hope you both have long and happy lives =)
Very inspiring words, but does everybody really think this actually happened? James Frey would be proud.
after reading this post, i got 2 things to say.
1st, i'm glad your father is who he is and that God supported you both in that situation.
2nd, now i'm probably the last person to have the right to speak about islam and sunnah, but if i did understand you well, you're a muslim? and lesbian? that's enough...i don't need to say more than that.
Now THAT is a real man! God be with you and your family.
You are both heroes. Thank you for doing what too many of us are scared to do: valuing liberty and justice over security. I wish that my country had people like you.
As a father, I would like to believe that all fathers are as loyal and courageous as your father, but I know it is not so. To couple those traits with his ability to speak as needed and the wisdom to act as needed makes him a truly remarkable man.
As your father has twice provided you your life (well maybe 1.5 times. Your mother counts too!), so too are you twice blessed: to have such father, and to know you have such a father.
Amina, i as well find your post inspired, your writing has touched so many people from all over the world. You, and your father, are now known, you have become a face and voice that is Syria to me and i suspect many others.
I hope the authority's will see this as a good thing, that by you being such a open and warm person it shows the rest of the world there is real hope for the region. By the agents leaving, even after the poorly made attempt at physical intimidation, they have shown that they are real men of Syria (not many others in position of authority in nearby country's have shown the same ability to switch off the attack) the two men found humanity within themselves; all because of a fathers words.
You are in the right place and the right time for your country, you and the people around you are what make history.
God be with you,
A American man.
As a heterosexual male from Adelaide Australia, this post brought some tears of joy to my eyes. Thankyou for your post, kudos to your father and I hope your region harbours many more like him.
Amina,
This is incredible thank you for sharing. My Parents emigrated form Damascus and I still have many relatives there. I am so incredibly moved by your bravery and your father's. Thank you for being willing to fight the fight and in the right ways.
Sima
Here via a friend of mine.
This Jew from New York thinks you and your father are incredible people.
Amina-
You and your father both deserve the highest of accolades. Please know that many of us in Canada are behind you every step of the way.
That was an incredible story to read!
I am so grateful that you are doing what you are doing and giving me and others a completely new perspective on the world. I am very glad I stumbled upon this blog and I think you are really doing a great thing by putting effort into this.
Infinite Love and Gratitude!
-WH
As a father of two young boys, not yet of age to discover their 'people preference', I drew goosebumps reading of the courage, love and total acceptance of one's family that your father has. Would that all people could have this affinity for their kin and their community. You are an inspiration, and I am sharing your story with all of my friends so that they too, can feel it, and be inspired to connect as you have.
Peace, love and light, from a simple family man in the U.S.
I am keeping you, your father and your family in my prayers. Your story is inspiring and brave. I wish you safety, and the opportunity to send your voice out into the word. We are here to listen.
This made me cry. I wish your family health and safety and hope beyond all hope they will survive.
You are a proud, intelligent, and truly amazing woman. One finds that one's moral and ethical fortitude may be traced to one's upbringing. In your case, I can only hope there are more like you and your family both. May you stay blessed - know that there are people across oceans that hear you and support you. Keep writing, and we shall keep listening.
As a father of several girls and boys as well but in a far safer environment in general (I live in Colorado, USA), I can only try to imagine what was going through your father's mind as this was all passing, but I can imagine what was in his heart well enough.
Please pass along my heartfelt congratulations to your father for his strength of character and his intelligence.
He is a credit to us all, as are you, by all I have read from you.
I wish for you nothing but the best of lives, safety and good health.
I am neither Muslim nor Christian, yet I feel these things are due all who are willing to be strong in their beliefs and stand firm in their convictions.
Standing up for his family in general and his daughter in particular in such a way shows he is such a man.
Just reading of what he has done makes me want to work that much harder for my own children and their future.
Be well. Be safe.
I came here via a facebook link.
Much love and admiration from Sweden. :-)
Amazing heart stopping story! So proud of you and your Dad.
Your Father and you are people this Jew [albeit a secular one] would be proud to call "friend"; you are not just the hope and future of your country and your people, together with others of similar belief and bravery, you are the hope of the world !
Lee S., USNA '60
Bless Syria, bless your father, bless you!
My heart goes out to you both and I hope your cause is won swiftly with the minimum of losses!
This is my first time visiting your blog - I'd just like to say that both you and your father are my new heroes.
Solidarity from the US,
Lauren
I don't know anything about you, I've never been to this website before, and I've got tears in my eyes.
Where, oh where, is the faith whose deity sayeth: "I command that thou be thyself, and be happy"?
And by the same token, how can anyone believe that our Creator did not intend precisely that?
the world needs more people like you and your father. Thank you.
Your father is a man among men.
I'm a Christian and I am humbled by your witness. Weapons can only halt wars. Words end them.
I admire your courage and am so proud of you for standing up to hatred and ignorance. I am a Christian, and I will pray every day for your country and everything you all are fighting for. EVERYONE deserves to be who they are, with no retribution from others. Your father is a wonderful man and I applaud him as well. Thank you for sharing such a private moment in your life. Thank you for giving us a different view than that of what we see in the media. Bless you.
Pro-LGBT ex-Muslim in the United States here. I am so proud of you and in awe of you and your father for being the great people you are in a place hostile to it.
I am an American from the south. I am pushing 40 and have become very jaded on humanity in general. I hope what you wrote is true because if so it gives me some hope that good still wins sometimes. I pray for your strength and for your Father who anyone would be proud to have. I only hope that if I am ever in the same situation that my children see me as you see your father.
Thank you for sharing this story. The strength that you and your father have shown gives me hope for the future.
This is the first time I visit your blog. Thank you so much for this beautiful post. It lit up my life.
This story brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing it. Peace to you and your family, I hope no trouble finds any of you.
Ms Amina,
I am a father of girls here in the US. I only hope that, should the need arise, I can be as strong, smart and loving as you father. What an inspiration! By such people the world is made better.
What a wonderful story. You father is a hero. If there were more people like him in the world, it would be a much better place.
//Greetings from Sweden
Your father and you are an example to us all.
Your father is a courageous man and clearly loves and protects you as a father should. A truly moving story.
Be safe
A powerful and beautiful story. Stay safe and strong - you are inspirational and we are thinking of you.
I can only say that I hope my daughters are as brave and strong as you, and that I would hope that I would be as brave and strong on their behalf as your father is for you.
To face such fear with brave actions and words is more courage than I have. To face uncertain days ahead, every day, is more than I can imagine.
I say you all deserve freedom - and I say this as a white son of the apartheid society who was freed from a future of bigotry and small-minded hate by the brave and peaceful people of South Africa.
\d
I love your father and I love Syria. A strong, good man, a strong lovely country and people.
What an inspiration. Everyone who says that words won't change people's minds should read this and bow their heads in awe. Thank you for sharing this and please give your dad a big hug from me xx
Stories like this make me feel hopeful for the future of humanity. Your father is an exemplary human being. Thank you for sharing your story.
I'm a bisexual NeoPagan from New York state in the US. My friend, a lesbian in Boston, linked to your post. This made me cry and I am so happy I read it, and that I will have a new blog to read. I have been reading about all the offspring of the Jasmine Revolution, and they are all amazing. I studied 20th century Russia in college, and your story reminds me of heroism there and in Eastern Europe. Your dad is a hero and an orator, and I am sure you know you are a hero who's inherited his talents, from writing this blog so well. My respect and solidarity to you and your people.
My friend, ComradeCat, posted the link to this post in LiveJournal. Bless your father and bless you - you are both my heroes!
Thank you for having the courage to live your life as you are and to write openly about this experience and others.
Thank you for telling us this story. Your father richly created a better story for all of us.
Dear Amina, I read your story through a link on FB, what an inspiration your father and you are.Stay safe both of you.
Peace be upon you and your family. Your father is an inspiration, and so are you. When a new Syria arises, it will be people like you the world will be thanking. But I'll go ahead and say it now: Thank you, Amina, and your father, for your strength, intelligence, courage and love.
It is people like you, and your father, who give me hope for the human race. I am not a follower of any religion, nor do I believe in any gods; however, your tale gives me hope for that in which I do believe...human dignity and love. Please stay safe.
I am in the proccess of earning my commission as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. I will most likely be sent to the Middle East when I am done. I want you to know that I would consider it an honor to lay down my life to protect people like you and your father. I hope that you would allow we Americans to stand beside you. We all want to help. We don't always go about it in the best way, but we want what is best for everyone. Liberty and peace must be achieved by everyone, not just a few. I am a citizen of the United States, But we are all citizens of the world. Semper Fidelis!
There is true beauty and there is true honour and there is true love in the world, and you are rich beyond counting in all of these, and your father too. God bless you.
As a bi male in west Michigan who was in his high-school's gay-straight alliance from freshman year all the way to senior year, I take off my hat to you, and to your father. BOTH of you are brave, noble, and admirable role-models. What you did took courage and strength of mind, body and spirit. And I pray that if (Heaven forbid) I ever have to face oppression that severe, that I might be able to summon within myself even a fraction of the amount of bravery and valor that you both showed that night! In the words of the Vulcan Spock from Star Trek, live long and prosper!
I read this from Chile, south america! It made me cry for real. I'm doing a research paper about women's right under islamic governments, if you have any contribution let me now!
I Read this from MOntreal, canada. a friend told me about it and i am going to tell all my friends:) I will pray for you, for your father and for all the other girls who need a father like your. God bless you.
IF i can help in someway let me know
Catalina Umbert
I read this from France.
I wish you a lot of courage, you will need it, and luck.
You're both amazing and you are examples to us all.
All my support and thoughts to you...
This story was incredibly moving. I first saw it on Jezebel (http://jezebel.com/5798902/the-unsettling-story-of-a-lesbian-blogger-in-syria).
I pray for your safety. I hope the best for you and your family. God keep you safe.
This brought tears to my eyes. I hope for your continued safety and for more people like your father, and more people willing to listen to him.
this is something that makes an agnostic pray for your luck
you have my thoughts
Tremendously stirring -- blessings on your father, and congratulations on your victory!
But I feel sorry for all those women who do not come from famous or even well-known families... Women shouldn't have to be able to prove a pedigree that takes them back to Mohammed in order to be safe from molestation. That's very sad, very distressing, and none of us are safe if we have to prove our respectability by our relationship to important people, important men.
Hi Amina
I read this from France, a day after my cousin told me about your story.
Bless you and your strengh! And most of everything, bless your father and your family.
I understand your and your father wish to stay until your country become a democracy. Still I am in awe when confronted (is that the word?) to such a courage!
I wish you luck, and will keep everyday a place in my heart to think about you, your family, and your fight!
I hope also that should my country fail as a democracy (and I am thinking that it already begin...) I will possess the same strengh your father has, along with your determination!
Bless you again!
Remarkable!
God bless your Father
Couldn't have scripted it better! Best of luck to you and your family.
Revolutions are now affecting many nations in MidEast...where is this trend is going...only a few knows.
Please be careful always...I am from the Philippines.
LadyMa
http://www.makingcash4free.com
Be blessed, be safe, and know that your courage is an inspiration to us here in the USA.
"...she has done many things that, if I had been her, I would not have done. But she has never once stopped being my daughter and I will never once let you do any harm to her."
Something every parent should believe, if they are to deserve the title. Truly inspirational.
you are one lucky lady! and your father is a brave brave man!
However, I know for a fact that Mukhabarat won't "quit" arresting someone just because they were yelled at! it's not that easy! they are always determined to arrest.. torture.. and do anything to protect their GOD... Assad! I'm having a hard time convincing myself that this is true..and that this incident DID happen!
of course, I'm talking from a Syrian point of view.. I've seen and witnessed many of the Mukhabarat's crimes against humanity.. and I'm not at all new to this.. and that's why I'm questioning the kind of Mukhabarat that stopped by your house! I'm not defending those savages.. but I'm trying to tell you that you need to be more convincing! ok.. trying not trying to be rude, too! I'm just a Syrian, who has an opinion! And I am praying for the freedom of my country.. and praying that this nightmare ends soon!
Nasim, read more recent of her posts. They came back and now she's in hiding
I know Valesianus.. but it still doesn't make sense.. they wouldn't have left her in the first place.. as I said.. I'm Syrian and know how the Security or Mukhabarat works! and they certainly don't leave someone for being "told off"! As I said, I'm not trying to be mean or rude.. but I'm a Syrian.. a supporter of the revolution.. but I think there is some Exaggeration here from AMINA to gain some kind of support and publicity! Just saying.. I hope I'm wrong.. I want to be wrong!
@Nasimorabi,
I'm a close family friend of Amina and I can vouch that the account is true. Do notice that her father also dropped some names of relatives to them; that, I suspect, is the key thing and as I happen to know who's names he'd drop (since Amina doesn't name them, I won't), I can imagine that they would have been very quick to leave with those dropped.
I really liked the post and the story, God Bless to you and your father.
Father's day is kinda near, why dont you give him a gift for fathers day?
Are you sure this happened in Syria? Oh sorry... "your father made some few calls in the middle of the night; woke up some people (and found some not sleeping) who are in teh regime and told them about the goons' visit"... so you have some links with the regime, haven't you?
There can be no peace in the Middle East until the Arabs learn to love there own children more than they hate Jews and Christians. Until then, there will only be allot more wars and repressions. Their religion is teaching them 5 times a day to pray "itbach al yahud". This is the socalled gaygirl's fellow protesters
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,477450,00.html
Can you people honestly claim that you have been to an mosque and haven’t heard the traditionaly prayer:
“We are all Hamas, Jews to the Gas”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLlHPPO25nM skip to 1:05
Here’s a bit of Muslims celebrating the genocide committed by American Muslims on 9/11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrM0dAFsZ8k
This is the mentality of these people not even deserve to be called human, but they are lived like animals.
All the talk of democracy and freedom is lies and only stupid braindead leftist will swallow this lies. Really the only goal for all these barabraians is to make a genocide of Jews and finish what Hitler started, this is the goal of all these groups. Then when Israel is killed they will come for the west. Already they are committing genocides against the former free peoples of Europe, in Serbia, Cyprus, Germany, Belgium, France, Denmark Is it safe for Jew to live in Malmo when these monsters are there?
In England, they are working very hard to whip out the free people and anything of English freedom. Then America. We need stop this madness!
@Patriot USMC don't kid yourself, as a christian I think Jews are more of a threat to us than Muslims, because i consider the christians palestinians you are harassing as victims. and you killed Jesus not Muslims if you think about it...
Fabulous. Such strength. I am in tears. What a beautiful and revealing moment... what hope this brings. Perhaps some day our countries will be run by people who are not corrupt, not narrow minded... people who are not egotistical thieves... greedily stealing from their country while their countrymen rot... God bless you and God bless a new Syria, a new Egypt... a new world.
Quite an amazing father you have. I hope for your safe return in the very near future.
Came here through an article on one of the Israeli news sites. It said there that there is a chance that you were kidnapped by government security forces, mukhabarat. But just in case you're reading this, try to stay safe. When i read that one of those goons put his hands on your breasts i was infuriated! But what has shocked me more is to later read that there were all this people watching and weren't doing anything to stop it! As an Israeli, i don't know what it is like living in dictatorship, but if it was up to me, i would've break that man's arms right on the spot! The fact that no one did anything to stop it, even though there were only two of them there, speaks volumes of the terrible conditions you live under and the courage it takes to do what you are doing. Please, try to stay safe, people like you are the future of Syria and the middle east.
Benny.
You have a lot of courage. Allah Wayaki.
Sami
I am moved beyond words. Amina, you are in my thoughts and my heart.
@ Patriot usmc and @Anonymous 7 June 2011 10:27
People like you don't understand anything, and are the cause for hatred and violence in so many places - the first of you being a racist and chauvinist "Patriot" without any real knowledge about the societies in the Middle East, and the second being an "Anonymous" antisemite
Freedom and dignity for all, regardless of nation, race or religion!
i dont find this blog credible.. i dont find the extraneous details necessary (such as the clothing u put on).. and i dont find the stories likely or plausible.. i dont think your dad reasoned security services out of an arrest.. at the same time there is absolutely no independently verifiable information.
if you are lying, i think its a little sick that you are probably taking credit for the real struggles of others for your own tacky fame and self promotion and i hope that your conscience bothers you for it later.
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