They Lost Their Cases Against Me

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

Formally speaking, the two men who filed the two libel and defamation suits against me lost both cases for lack of evidence, but the real and greater losers are those from the security services who incited them. Persons of official standing in Nablus conspired against me together with two security services involved in security coordination with the Zionist enemy, and pressed for my criminal arrest, but over a year and a half they were unable to produce any evidence. They succeeded in occupying me with court proceedings during this period, but I succeeded in confronting them in the media. Let me stress here that in my media interviews I do not speak against ordinary individuals, but against heads of state, prime ministers, or senior officials in their official capacity, not their personal one.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the young lawyer Yasser Saleh Abu Aida, who handled both cases before the Nablus Magistrate’s Court, and who displayed the highest professionalism, distinguished legal skill, and the wisdom of patience through the court proceedings. And I remember the late brother, lawyer Abd al-Karim Hammad, who never rested whenever the Palestinian Authority or one of its pillars did me wrong, and the late brother, lawyer Saleh Abu Aida, who stood with me time and again in legal forums, confronting the arbitrary measures I have been subjected to.

And here I hasten to bring the good news to His Excellency Dr. Jamal al-Muhaysen, who spoke on An-Najah Radio on the morning of 21 April 2009, in his capacity as Governor of Nablus, and told the public that Abd al-Sattar Qassem was under criminal arrest, and that he behaved as though he were the only patriot around. It was clear to my family, from his tone, that he was gloating and expressing an inner joy. And I bring the good news, too, to Major General Adnan al-Damiri, who confirmed on 24 April 2010 that Abd al-Sattar Qassem had been arrested on criminal charges and that he was not above the law, and who presented the case numbers to the media. Thank you both for bringing your good news to the people of Palestine, and I believe my own good news has now risen above yours. And let me remind you both that people come crashing down when they act out of rancor and spite.

And I bring the good news, too, to An-Najah University Radio and Palestine Television, which presented the unbalanced point of view without ever contacting my family to hear the other side of the story.

Those who coordinate on security matters with Israel, or who accept the principle of such coordination, ought to fall silent and withdraw whenever true men and noble women speak of the homeland and of patriotism.

My arrest was political through and through, aimed at achieving two things: distorting my image before some naive people, and avoiding a political arrest that might stir up some people and some human rights associations. I went to the police to file a complaint, but the officer, Wadah al-Sha’er, left me in his office and disappeared for a while, about a quarter of an hour, then came back to say that there were complaints against me. The matter ended with my being detained together with criminal suspects. Let me say here that the police are responsible for civil security, and that they ought not to listen to those who endanger the national security and the civil security of the Palestinian people. Among those who bear responsibility for my detention is Dr. Salam Fayyad, who was aware of what was happening, especially since the police answer to what is called the Ministry of Interior.

There are those who ask about the effect these assaults, slanders, and measures have had on my own state of mind and on that of my family members. Their effect on me has been positive, because they increase my resolve and determination, and deepen my experience and my capacity to stand firm and absorb the material pain that comes with them. It often occurs to me how naive it is for those who carry out these assaults against me to occupy themselves with the possibility of my collapse or surrender. As for my family, they have grown accustomed to such measures and assaults.

Now, what was the role of Public Prosecutor Baha al-Ahmad in all of this? And what was the role of Assistant Prosecutor Hussam Khalaf in the matter? How could a public prosecutor sign off on the detention of a university professor known locally, regionally, and internationally, who is unable to leave the country, who is ranked among the hundred best writers in the world, who has more than twenty books, more than a hundred academic papers, and thousands of articles to his name, without having a shred of evidence in hand? Mr. Hussam Khalaf interrogated me, and I denied everything in the complaint against me, but in the end he shouted forcefully: “You are under arrest.” Why, Mr. Hussam, that forceful tone you shouted with? And how, Mr. Baha, could you sign a detention order based on a complaint resting on no evidence whatsoever? And do you both agree with me that a person is truly a loser if he gains the whole world, or the favor of those who hold power, and loses his own soul?

It is wise for every person — man and woman, young and old, learned and ignorant — to remember that no state of affairs lasts forever, that history is in a state of constant change, and that whoever holds a stick in his hand today may find a whip laid across his own back tomorrow. Son of Adam, do not feel too secure in your own tyranny, for it may bring you someone who will crack open your skull.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “خسروا قضاياهم ضدي” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.