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The mother continues to call out for him even in her sleep
Sadiq Farhan (a pseudonym), a 28-year-old man born in the city of Taiz, applied to study at the University of Marib. However, he was forcibly disappeared while in areas controlled by the internationally recognized Yemeni government. His aspirations and dreams were shattered without any mercy.At around 11:00 pm on the evening of August 8, 2020, a military vehicle arrived at the exchange shop where Sadiq worked. He was sleeping in the shop when soldiers raided it. They apprehend him and seized everything, including the computers and his older brother's Fortuner car which was parked near the shop.The sudden news of Sadiq's disappearance was a devastating tragedy for his family, particularly for his 60-year-old mother, who has been unable to sleep or eat since then. She has been consumed by thoughts and emotions for her son, Sadiq.Sadiq’s brother (30 years old) recounts, “We pained for her in silence, but there was little we could do. We attempted several times to reach Marib and search for Sadiq. Upon hearing the news, my other brother hurried from Taiz to Marib and went straight to the government compound to inquire about Sadiq's whereabouts. There, he was informed that Sadiq was being held in the prison of the Political Security Department, as the cars used to abduct him had tinted windows, a common feature of vehicles owned by the political security department.”Upon learning of his brother's disappearance, Samir (40 years old) immediately went to the Political Security office in Ma'rib, but he too was detained. "We were at a loss for what to do. One detainee turned into two," says Sadiq's brother. "I went to Ma'rib and, after making efforts to follow up with the Public Prosecution, Samir was eventually released. However, Sadiq's whereabouts remained unknown. His mother continued to call out for him even in her sleep."On the sixth of Ramadan, which corresponds to April 7, 2022, Sadiq's family received news that he would be released. Sadiq's brother recalls, "My mother was overjoyed and tears streamed down her face. She even went on a hunger strike, insisting that we take her to Marib to see her son and be there to welcome him upon his release. We made our journey to Marib, despite the treacherous condition of the roads we traversed, which often led to unknown destinations. Along the way, the car we were in broke down twice. Despite being an elderly and sick woman, my mother endured the hardships of the journey."As the grieving mother walked along one of the streets of Marib, she suddenly spotted a young man who bore a resemblance to Sadiq in terms of height, hair, and appearance. She rushed towards him and embraced him tightly, crying tears of joy. "Where have you been? I've been searching for you for years," she said, kissing his feet repeatedly. Beside the young man stood another woman, who turned out to be his mother, looking on in surprise and bewilderment at the emotional scene."The mother of the young man asked, 'What do you want, sister? Do you need any help?' Sadiq's mother looked at the young man once more and realized it was not him. She fainted and fell to the ground. Concerned passersby gathered around, asking about the situation, so we explained it to them. We could see sadness and empathy in their faces, as they felt sorry for us," Sadiq’s brother adds.“Later, on April 10, 2022, we requested permission to visit my brother from the relevant authorities, hoping that my mother's heart calm by seeing her son. However, our request was rejected, even though it was during the holy month of Ramdhan. As a result, we decided to return to Taiz that same day, weighed down by pain and oppression, searching for even a glimmer of hope, but finding none.”
