Video: Eman El-Obeidi’s cousin speaks out (Translated)

Eman El-Obeidi’s cousin speaks out on her sister’s disappearance.

Translation:

Presenter: Dear viewers, we end today’s show with an exclusive interview done by Al-Aan’s correspondent Jinan Musa with Mariam Al Omar, Eman El-Obeidi’s cousin, the woman who was raped by pro Gaddafi forces.

Mariam: Eman is her daughter. She has 7 daughters. Eman is a law graduate from Zawiya. And Amal is an English literature graduate, who works in Tripoli in the Administration of Supervison. Eman goes to her sister (Amal) in Tripoli and stays with her since she (Amal) has kids. They are a conservative family, and always together. So the other day while she was passing through a checkpoint in Tripoli, they held her and raped her.

Jinan: When did she go to Tripoli?

Mariam: She always goes to Tripoli. They have checkpoints inside of Tripoli and thats where she was held and raped. She visits her sister alot. Amal is married with children. Her husband is Salah Al Deenali, who they (government) might say was killed. According to what Eman is saying they killed him and kidnapped her nephew as well. This is the first time we heard of it and are very shocked and have not slept since last night. And we don’t know how to get our justice. But Allah will get our justice (for us). What is important now is for the world to know that she (Eman) is a good girl. She is a law graduate. How can she be a law graduate and be mentally ill as well? But there is a great chance that they will beat her (torture her) until she does become mentally unstable. this is something they are used to doing.

Jinan: Is of has Eman been married? Does she have any kids?

Mariam: No, no, no Eman is still unmarried (was still a virgin)

Jihan: Is Eman insane?

Mariam: No Eman is not insane. Eman is a law graduate. Do law schools let insane people graduate? Eman is very sane. Would her sister (Amal) let her live with her when she has 2 boys?

Jinan: Did you hear any news since after they took her away?

Mariam: After they took her away, her family held a funeral since they are assuming she is dead by now. The funeral is not only for her but for her sister’s husband. Her sister’s son is kidnapped as well. In the clip we saw, she said they killed Salah and they kidnapped Hamad.

Jinan: Who are Salah and Hamad?

Mariam: Salah is her sister’s husband, Amal’s husband. And Hamad is her son.

Jinan: Where is Amal now?

Mariam: We don’t know, but their is a great possibility that they will put her on Libyan TV so she can say that my sister Eman is mentally ill. And as usual she will be held at gun point.

Jinan: Has her family in Tobruk or your family tried to call the police/security forces to demand her release?

Mariam: What police/security forces?!! Impossible, impossible! Can anyone try to get her out?! Forget the subject. Only if it is the will of Allah.

Jinan: Why hasn’t her sister (Amal) in Tripoli come here after this all happened?

Mariam: Amal works in Tripoli and she couldn’t leave after they closed the roads and airport. Tripoli is just a big prison. We call the families that have satellite phones and they tell us that they can’t form groups more than 2 or 3 people. Our lives are centered on water, bread and petrol. Other than that there is no movement in Tripoli.

Jinan: If Gaddafi and his sons were watching this, would you like to send them any message?

Mariam: No, Gaddafi is two faced. He always says one thing and then lies to the people (by doing the opposite), and its very normal for him. He got used to lying to the people.

Jinan: Do you want to send a message to his supporters?

Mariam: No, they are all the same believe me. Do you think that one is better than the other? They are all the same. But they have to know that God is great and will take away the oppressor. And that Muammer is over, there is no escaping the fact that he is.

Jinan: What do you think will happen with Eman, Amal and her son?

Mariam: No, no, no, we forgot about them. They will come out of this mentally unstable or dead. The end is over. The end is that Eman, God thank her, came out with her story and the all his (Gaddafi) faces have been revealed as to what he can do. To the point that it reaches women, this is the last face (of Gaddafi) that has been uncovered.

Jinan: At other times when she (Eman) has been to Tripoli, she she ever said anything about any one bothering her in the streets?

Mariam: No, no, no. She would always go out with her sister. But the checkpoints in the road are something new.

Mariam: *answers her mobile* Fadel, hello? Fadel? Can you hear me?

Fadel: Hello?

Mariam: Yes Fadel. Salam

Fadel: Salam. How are you?

Mariam: How are things at your end?

Fadel: Honestly, no news after what happened yesterday (Eman being taken away)

Mariam: Is it true about Salah? Is he really dead?

*Inaudible*

Mariam: Salah? Amal’s husband is he really dead?

Fadel: I’m not sure. It has not been confirmed yet. We only heard it over the phone but its not confirmed. They said the husband is dead and the son is lost (kidnapped)

Mariam: husband is dead and the son is lost (kidnapped)?

Fadel: Exactly

Jinan: Who is Fadel?

Mariam: Fadel is her (Eman) uncle.

Jinan: He is in Tobruk now?

Mariam: *murmurs her agreement* Mariam was born in 1982, she is not that old.

Jinan: Were you surprised?

Mariam: I was very surprised. I was surprised and not surprised. Surprised that I saw my cousin on TV. And i wasn’t surprised cause this is what Muammer does. Its not strange to him (to order rape). Tomorrow you (journalists) will fill pages, books, magazines, walls and TVs, and maybe you (journalists will be able to talk for a full year about his (Gaddafi’s) cruelty. This is Muammer Gaddafi and he will never change. This is nothing new (to Libyans).

Jinan: They also said that Eman was drunk? That she has drank alcohol.

Mariam: They should pick one: either she is mentally ill or drunk? How did she arrive at the hotel (if she was drunk)? A crazy man is speaking and I’m listening. How did she arrive to the hotel?

Jinan: Is she a strong woman?

Mariam: She has a strong personality. Usually when you say so and so has such a degree, then you can know a person. She is a law graduate and knows exactly what she was saying word for word and what she was doing.

Note:

Mariam is her cousin from her mother’s side.

Fadel is Eman’s mother’s brother.

The Libyan government declared Eman to be mentally unstable and that she ‘fantasized about being raped” and that she was drunk as well, which is why she made such allegations.