Read an Excerpt
Unreasonable Doubt
Real Story
By Essam M. Al Mohandis PartridgeSG
Copyright © 2014 Essam M. Al Mohandis
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4828-2845-0
CHAPTER 1
Good-bye, Boston
Final Moments, Sad Memories, and a Return to the Dearest Homeland
It was Saturday, February 28, 2004. The clock hands pointed to 9:00 a.m. in Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts. The external temperature was below zero Centigrade. The sun did not rise this morning. The police officer released me from my shackles and handcuffs. I sat waiting on one of the chairs in one of the airport terminals.
I discovered the truthfulness of the prosecutor and fulfillment of his promise, as he told me yesterday. He would try to deport me as soon as possible to my homeland. I discovered the human side of his personality. A person who sees a prosecutor in court trying by all possible means to prove the accusations and pin them to me would not see the same person who visited me yesterday in the deportation jail. He was totally a different person. He was a kind man, he dealt nicely with me. While I was having mixed feelings of happiness, worries, and lack of reassurance, the kind old customs officer approached me with a greeting.
"Good morning."
"Good morning to you, oh good man."
"Congratulations for gaining back your freedom and innocence. I was sure that you were innocent."
"Thanks for your good feelings and wishes. You are a real gentleman."
"Can I help you?"
"I'm supposed to depart today for my home country, but I don't know the departure time. Can you call the prosecutor and get the accurate information from him?"
"Do you have his contact number?"
"Yes, I do. Here it is. Thank you very much for being so kind."
I handed the Old customs officer's the business card of the prosecutor, which he had given me personally when he visited me last night in the deportation jail. This kind man's wonderful feelings and kind words helped cure some of my unhealed wounds. I thank you. You are truly a kind man. Your attitudes with me relate the Western humanitarian feelings to me. They clearly say that he is one thing and his system is another.
Only a few moments passed before the arrival of the old man who brought along two donuts. "Here is your donut. I shall bring you a cup of hot coffee."
"Thank you, oh good man. I'm fasting today in thanks and appreciation to Almighty God. I thank Him for His grace. The Boston Herald did an interview with me for the newspaper. Is it possible to get a copy of the newspaper?"
"It's my pleasure."
That good man left the scene and came back with the newspaper article. "Your picture looks wonderful."
"Thank you. Thank you."
"The prosecutor informed me that he will come to the airport at two O'clock and the plane will leave at three. Do you need anything else?"
"I can't thank you enough, my good man."
"Don't worry about it. Good-bye."
"Good-bye."
At 11:00 a.m., I went with one man, an airport worker who asked me to cooperate with him. Again, he asked me a few more repeated questions that left me bored. He jotted down my answers on his desktop computer. After he concluded his questions, he printed them, along with my answers, on a sheet of paper. He requested me to read them and sign at the bottom of the paper. I could have refused to do so or even objected and asked for my attorney's presence, but I did not. The truth was crystal clear, as strong as the shining sun. I didn't have anything to hide. When he took my fingerprints, he asked me another silly question. I did not hide my laughter.
He asked if I'd like to ask for political asylum or go back home. I answered him sincerely. I would rather go home. Upon hearing that, he shamefully put down his head as he heard my truthful and decisive words. They were very frank and open. They revealed the feelings of a person who loved his country, his homeland, and his family and believed in his faith, principles, and doctrine.
I sat down on one of the seats outside his office after offering my prayer. It was 1:30 p.m. I looked at the incoming passengers and customs inspectors as they inspected some of the passengers' luggage.
While doing so, the old man who worked in the customs office, wearing his civilian attire, came toward me. "You look more elegant in civilian attire."
"I don't know what to say."
"I'm sure you've passed through difficult times and bad people. Believe me, there are good people in this country."
"I believe you are one of them. I only carry tolerance in my heart despite all the difficulties I went through personally and caused my family members, children, and friends to endure. My good man, in this world, there are human-soul roses and thorns, there are good and evil. I believe that whatever happened to a person in this life is good for him or her. If one is bestowed a grace upon, one would be thankful. And if one is inflicted with hardships and difficulties, one would be patient, which is good for him."
The old man extended his hand sadly to shake hands with me. "Be good and safe."
"I hope to meet you in better circumstances. I wish you all the best from the bottom of my heart."
The old man said good-bye to me and left, but the years to come would never erase his good treatment from my memory. Yes, kind man, you can't really tell the sad situation of my parents, wife, brothers, paternal and maternal uncles and aunts, the rest of my brothers and sisters, and my extended family members. They were upset day and night. They exerted every effort, offering supplications to God the Almighty to ease my situation. They cried a lot. They all had broken hearts.
Yet they demonstrated a high level of patience and perseverance. They entrusted God the Almighty with all our affairs. They were sure that I was innocent and I would come back home soon, safe and sound. They were truthful with God the Almighty, and He was also truthful with them. They were able to see me back among them. All praise is due to God the Almighty.
From a distance, I could see the prosecutor stepping toward me. It was 2:15 p.m. He had my traveling ticket, my passport, my wallet, my coat, and a message from my beloved wife in his hand. She assured me that everything was well with her and her father. The prosecutor handed me a copy of her and her father's reservations. The departure date was the next day, Sunday.
Glorified be the Almighty God. My wife and her father came to the United States with the hope and intent to travel back along with me. But there I was, leaving them unwillingly. At that time, my heart wept silently. I'd been parted from the person I loved, with whom I'd spent the best days of my life. She was the one of whom I have the best hopes, dreams, and memories.
The prosecutor said good-bye to me and wished me a pleasant trip. At the gate for my plane, an official handed me my passport, along with my tickets. My destination was Frankfurt, Germany. My flight was on Lufthansa Airlines. I'd begin my journey toward my beloved homeland, my beloved country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I would end up in Riyadh with a stopover in the city of Jeddah, the bride of the Red Sea.
I sat in my assigned seat in the plane. When the passengers were all seated, the plane headed toward the runway. Our speed accelerated with the beats of my own heart. Joy and exhilaration appeared on my face. The plane's wheels gradually left the runway, and we rose up through the clouds. I continued looking at the city of Boston, which looks at the Atlantic Ocean. I tried to examine some of its landmarks and features. I could see the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse, which is close to the airport. I could also see the Federal Defender Office.
I noticed the streets crowded with cars and trucks. It was very cold, but the warmth of my feelings overpowered the coldness of the place around me. Only twenty-four hours ago, I was shuttling between the court and the federal defendant's office, not knowing how my case would end. But now in my hand, I carried a letter that stated my innocence from all accusations. I had no luggage and no backpack.
Trying times and difficult situations reflect the reality of people. Their actions prove their realities. How many times had a friend claimed a true friendship to me but proved to me that he was otherwise during trying times? In contrast, others proved their truthfulness, loyalty, and devotion. I had seen with my own eyes the one who came personally to Boston for my support. He had given his testimony in my favor before the court. He left his work and family behind for my sake. I had seen some people who tried their best to travel before February 23, 2004, the beginning of the court date, but the security claims of the embassy and security hysterical call, prevented him from doing so. He was subject to injustice, cancellation of his entry visa to the United States, and exposure of himself for imprisonment.
I had seen the truthfulness of people who mixed their voices with their tears for my sake every time they called me on the phone. Their words were healing ones. Their supplications supported me, and I had noticed the impact of their true petitions on my case. All praise is due to God the Almighty, who enabled me to have such sincere and loyal brethren, whether I knew them or not. I ask God the Almighty to give them the greatest of rewards and bless their hearts.
A German passenger sitting next to me disrupted my chain of thoughts. He studied his bachelor's, master's, and PhD in neurosciences in Boston. He worked as a researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the renowned advanced schools in the world. He spoke to me, not knowing who I was nor the circumstances I passed through.
The German scientist became bored and tired of the tremendous security procedures in the United States. Just a short while ago, he received an offer to work in his own country. He was going there to discuss the details. He said he would not return to Boston if he agreed with them on the offer.
This German scientist would give up his career in Boston, where he lived, breathed its air, and loved the people whom he worked with. He shared with me his worries and concerns about the scientific and technical advanced future for the United States in general and Boston in particular.
Not a single corner or side of the city of Boston lacks an institute, college, or university whose students come from all over the world. The September 11 events and hallucinations of the administration of the president of the United States turned away many willing students to come and study in the United States to come there. Rather, many of the new students changed their directions to study in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia. This would surely negatively affect the economical aspect of the United States, and it would have a bearing on the "brain migration" from the United States as well.
I listened very carefully to what the German scientist had to say. I admired his way of thinking, discussion, deep vision, and detailed analysis. We spent some time talking about Germany as an industrial state. We addressed his records of achievements. We talked about the social structure of the German society and community as compared with the American counterpart. We talked about the disunion, disconnection, and incoherence of the family in the United States. We tackled many issues and talked about a wide range of subjects.
After more than nine hours of continuous flight, we arrived at the German territories. We passed over Switzerland and France. The plane landed at Frankfurt. We disembarked the plane, and I headed to the transit hall where the Saudi Airlines office is located. The time according to my wristwatch was 7:00 a.m. Frankfurt local time, on Saturday, February 28, 2004.
Eight more hours remained for the departure of the flight heading to Jeddah. I went to a store and bought a calling card. I called my parents, brother, and my wife and her father as well. I also bought a newspaper to pass some time and learn about the news. I was disconnected from the world for almost two months in a country that makes and fabricates the news.
I sat down and reviewed the touching tape of memories that took place in a stage of my life. The successive events went on continuously with all their sufferings, surprises, and its divine facilitation. Hours passed, and I did not feel what was going on around me. I was drowned in the ocean of painful memories and lonesome darkness of injustice.
My goodness. I couldn't believe what happened. Every time I moved from one point to the next on the memory's tape, I thanked God the Almighty for His kindness, uncountable graces, and benevolence in facilitating and easing my affairs.
* * *
My memories took me back to 10:00 p.m. on Monday, December, 29, 2003. On that same night God the Almighty blessed me with my first daughter.
The next day, I met my boss, Engineer Abdullah. He congratulated me for the baby girl and further told me that another surprise was waiting for me. He informed me about a trip to the United States. The exclusive representative of the American company in Riyadh set the training date on the DNA replicate device. The date would be two days from that time, if I accepted the traveling idea as per the offered training schedule. In fact, I liked the idea without any hesitation. The training period was relatively short, nine days. My wife would spend some time with her family, forty days post birth, as is the traditions in our culture.
I missed the first training date for this course, which was on December 6, 2003. I applied to the US Embassy in Riyadh in July 2003.
A middle-aged lady in her forties received my application.
"What is the reason of your visit to the United States?"
"Training on a machine purchased by the hospital I work in."
"What is the name of the company that would provide the training? What are the applications or uses of the machine?"
"It is an American company that manufactures modern technological machines that replicate the DNA, hereditary tape, in the field of medical diagnosis."
"Did you visit the United States in the last ten years?"
"No, I didn't visit it absolutely."
"Are you married? How many children do you have?"
"Yes. I have two children."
"The embassy may request you to come again for another interview. Do you have any objection?"
"Of course not. I am ready to answer any further or additional questions or supply any further documents or information."
"You have to understand that submitting an application to the embassy does not necessarily mean it is accepted. It might take approximately six to eight weeks to get the reply from the secretary of state (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) in the United States and the authorities of the Homeland Security."
"But my training date is approximately after five weeks."
"I can't accelerate this process. Your documents would be submitted through the normal channels and according to the instructions that we have in the embassy."
Days passed by. The training date was due. There was no news yet from the US Embassy about the visa. After five weeks, I received a call from Basel, an employee in the US Embassy. He requested I come to the embassy after the fasting month holidays. I went to the US Embassy as requested and submitted my passport. I asked about the employee Basel, but no one apparently knew him.
But another employee there informed me that the instructions were given to issue me an entry visa to the United States. The visa was valid for one year from the issuing date. The employee received my passport and informed me to come back after one week to get the visa.
It was the Almighty God's wisdom that my wife agreed with me, after a lot of hesitation, to attend the training during that time for two reasons. First, it was to benefit from the scientific and professional training opportunity in order to better serve the generous and beloved country. She realizes my passion and strong enthusiasm for my work. She also realizes my strong desire to improve my professionalism and deepen my knowledge about my career.
Second, she realizes my passion for travel and widening my cognizance. She usually repeats the proverb that says, "Travel has seven benefits," yet I am still looking into the benefits of travel and, in particular, the first benefit, despite the passing of years.
My newborn daughter Wasan was like her elder brother Mohammed and all other children. She slept during the daytime and woke up at night. Of course, parents complain a lot about this habit. Further, her mother didn't like that habit at all. This also bothered me as I had a full-time job that required focus and attention. Of course, this did not meet the liking of our beloved newborn daughter Wasan. She screamed from the top of her lungs right next to my ears.
On the morning of January 2, 2004, I received a call from Engineer Mohammed, whose company represented the American company in my beloved country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He informed me that he arranged all the hotel reservations and he was waiting for the air tickets confirmation. He said he would tell me as soon as he would receive the air tickets.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Unreasonable Doubt by Essam M. Al Mohandis. Copyright © 2014 Essam M. Al Mohandis. Excerpted by permission of PartridgeSG.
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