The Beekeeper Betrayed by the Path of Return"
Saddam Saleh Mahmood Khadif, a skilled beekeeper aged 33, hailed from the picturesque Al-Qabal district nestled within the Al Mahweet governorate. Known for his reserved demeanor, he carried himself with a quiet strength that belied his challenges in speech and communication. Despite these obstacles, Saddam was admired for his unwavering dedication to his craft, tending to his beloved bees with a meticulous care that spoke volumes in the serene landscapes of his homeland.
The father of the missing beekeeper recounts the tragic tale of Saddam's disappearance with a heavy heart, sharing, "On that fateful Monday, the 10th of December 2018, my son Saddam embarked on a journey from his farm on his trusty motorcycle, filled with eager anticipation to return home and embrace his awaiting family. His children and wife longed for his arrival, eagerly anticipating the joy of his homecoming."
"Yet, as destiny would have it," the narrator continued, "troubles befell Saddam on his path. At a security checkpoint nestled in the picturesque Shafar area of Abs district, located in the grandeur of Hajjah governorate, his journey took an unexpected turn. There, a supervisor associated with the Ansar Allah (Houthis) group detained him for the absence of proper identification, casting a shadow over his anticipated reunion and marking the inception of his mysterious disappearance."
The father of the victim continued his poignant narrative, expressing, "We anxiously awaited the return of my son, with tendrils of worry slowly entwining our hearts. On the third day, we were informed that my son was being detained at a location referred to as the 'White House'—an unofficial holding facility linked to the Ansar Allah/Houthis group in Hajjah province, Abs district. The reason for his confinement remained shrouded in mystery, adding to our distress and confusion."
Meanwhile, the father wrestled with thoughts in his mind about the reasons for his son's detention, recalling a previous conversation they had regarding his son's disagreement with the owner of the farm where Saddam tended to his bees. He prayed fervently that nothing untoward had befallen his son.
The father recounts, "After half a month, I, accompanied by some elders, journeyed to Hajjah province in the hopes of discovering his fate. However, we were denied entry to the 'White House.' Curiosity piqued, we sought information about this place from various individuals. Yet, I later wished I hadn't asked, as the responses were grim and unsettling. One of the most chilling accounts described it as a place where those who enter are lost, and those who leave are born anew, with rumors of torture inflicted upon its detainees."
The father treaded through the shadows of uncertainty in his relentless pursuit to find his son, with every stride carrying a flicker of hope within. Yet, despite his unwavering efforts, the passage of time has not brought him any closer to reuniting with his missing son.
The mystery surrounding Saddam's disappearance continues to confound, despite nearly seven years having passed since the incident. The father and the family cling to hope that they will reunite with their son safe and sound, longing for his return to the embrace of a family that has never lost faith in finding him.
The father ended his poignant tale with these words: "We cling to hope for Saddam's safe return, akin to how Joseph and his brother reunited with their father Jacob, peace be upon him. Though Saddam is not Joseph, and I am not Jacob, we find solace in their story, trusting that Allah will not abandon us. My prayers are for Saddam's well-being and safe return, and I yearn for his mother and I to be alive to embrace and comfort him upon his homecoming."
The Ansar Allah group (Houthi) must reveal the fate of all those forcibly disappeared, end the crime of enforced disappearance that continues to affect the families and loved ones of the victims, release them, provide them with redress and justice, and end other crimes of enforced disappearance in all areas under their control.
