Bahrain Mirror (Exclusive): In the mid-1990s, a young woman named Dhawiya Al-Sayed Alawi from Bilad Al-Qadim passed away, leaving behind twins, Hassan and Hussein, who were only one year old at the time.

On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, Fakhriya Al-Sayed Alawi from Bilad Al-Qadim village died, after longingly waiting for her nephews Hassan and Hussein to be released from the prison they have been held at for almost seven years. She passed away after she had saved money in hopes of helping them out with getting married.

How are Hassan and Hussein now? One cannot imagine the sadness and bitterness they must feel as they linger behind bars. Hassan has spent seven years in prison but there's still three years left of his ten-year sentence before he sees freedom. As for Hussein, he was sentenced to at least 30 years of imprisonment.

This could be described as doubled orphanhood, as they have only seen their mother in photos and their 55-year-old aunt Fakhriya was like a second mother to them. She took care of them and loved them with all her heart, and also loved all the prisoners who were held with her nephews in the same cell in Jaw Prison. She flooded them all with love and got to know their families. She cared for them as much as she could, not just her nephews.

Hassan and Hussein were surprised that she was so sick that she would die and leave their lives because she tried as much as possible during her visits to hide her illness from them. It was enough that they were in prison, she used to say. She only wanted to be a source of joy, hope and tenderness to them.

The nurse, who worked for thirty-three years in the health sector with full dedication, passed away and all the doctors, technicians and nurses who worked with her mourned her. She died waiting for the orphans whom she cared for. She was also waiting for three other prisoners (the sons of Hajj Said Mansi), the sons of one of her sisters, who lived near her.

This is how Hassan and Hussein lost the woman who gave them all the love and kindness, but they were young enough to think that she was their mother, until they knew for the first time that they had faith, had the first day of mourning for the second time, this is the double orphan with a deeper sense of loss and loss.

Hassan and Hussain, who are from the Mashallah family, who recently rejoiced at the release of their arrested aunt Fawzia Mashallah, asked for one thing after hearing the tragic news. They asked that their aunt be buried in the grave of their mother, her sister Dhawiya Alawi. She was buried in a nearby grave near her sister and father's graves.

Fakhriya's story is similar to another story but with the roles reversed. In this story, the orphans are the ones waiting outside prison for their imprisoned aunt who took care of them. It is the story of Zakia Al-Barbouri, who is from Nuwaidrat village.

Zakia Al-Barbouri, an unemployed engineer, lives like any other marginalized Bahraini woman in their homeland, who are not recognized by Her Highness and her entourage in the Supreme Council for Women.

In 2012, a car accident occurred, leaving Halima Al-Barbouri dead. Her sister Zakia was injured in the accident. Halima left behind three young children and an older daughter.

After she got out of prison, Zakia dedicated her life to raising Fatima, her niece and her three younger nephews. They were with her all day long. She was like a mother to them.

At dawn on Thursday May 17, 2018, a police forces stormed the family home in Nuwaidrat. Zakia Al-Barbouri, 28, and her eldest niece Fatima, were arrested. The three children woke up to find out that security forces had arrested their aunt and eldest sister.

They disappeared. The girl and her aunt were held in solitary confinement. More than 20 days later, the family heard their weak voices through a phone call: "We are in prison," they said.

After a month and a half, Fatima was released, but Zakia remained imprisoned. She was subjected to horrific torture. Her body became weak, as she lost a lot of weight. She was accused of harsh charges, the usual: receiving money from Iran, etc. The prosecution decided to detain her for 30 days pending investigation. She was prevented from meeting her lawyer.

On Wednesday, February 6, 2019, Zakia Al-Barbouri was sentenced to five years in prison and her nationality was revoked. This is how Fatima and her three young brothers taste every day the bitterness of doubled orphanhood. Their mother Halima died years ago, and now their compassionate aunt is behind the bars.

Despite all the pain, Zakia and her orphan niece and nephews may eventually be reunited, but Hassan and Hussein Mashalla will leave prison to only find two graves to visit.

Arabic Version