↑ Return to In Prison

Hassan Matooq

Hassan Matooq is not one of the 20 medics currently on trial. He is a nurse that has already been sentenced to 3 years and is currently in prison.

Doctors In Chains received this testimony from one of his colleagues:

“Mr. Hassan Matooq, 30 years old, is the eldest child of his family. He is married and has one son just 6 years old. He has seven years experience as an emergency specialized nurse. His goal was to continue his studies until he gets his Ph.D.

If you know Hassan, you will always remember his smile and well manners! He is so much loved by his family, colleagues and patients. He loves children which explains why he works at the pediatric emergency room.

You will always see Hassan coming to work two hours earlier than his shift to help others finish their work. He is well known for his volunteer work especially at the Bahrain Nursing Society. If you ask him to volunteer for any activity he will say: no problem, when, where and what do you want me to do? But he never knew that because of his volunteer work at the emergency department during the crisis in Bahrain he would end up in jail and sentenced for three years.

He was accused of photographing during the crisis. For those who do not know him, his hobby and the love of his life is photography. You will always see him carrying a camera. We use to kid him that he might be sleeping with his camera! He believes that pictures will stay forever that is why it is important for him to take pictures of everything in his life, especially his son and family gatherings. He never knew that his camera would be the main cause of entering jail and it would separate him from his family for years.
He never was involved in politics. He does not belong to any political parties nor has he attended political lectures. On his days off, he travels around the Kingdom of Bahrain taking pictures. He does not talk much but when he does talk, he talks about his camera and its functions. Mr. Hassan Matooq never spoke about politics or hatred to the system. But whenever there is a crisis in the country, he runs to the emergency room to help and that is exactly what he did during Bahrain crisis back in the 1999 Gulf air crisis and in February 2011.

On the 24th of March, Mr. Matooq was working at the emergency department during the night shift. Around one o’clock AM around twenty soldiers with masks came into the emergency department and arrested him with no respect to his nursing uniform.
They first insulted him with bad words and cussed him, and then started to hit him badly. One of the soldiers saw Hassans’ ring; he grabbed it and wore it while others were hitting him. Hassan was taken from the emergency room without any lawyer nor informing his family.

His friends informed his family what happened and that is when the family started the search for their son Hassan for two weeks before they got to know that he was arrested and in Alnaeem police station. All they wanted to know whether he is alive or not. Finally after three weeks a call was placed to his family asking them to bring some clothes to Hassan. That means Hassan stayed without clean clothes for three weeks with his uniform on.

Finally he was able to talk to his family and inform them that he was hanged from his hands for eight days, while being hit and tortured and never allowed to sleep. He was always threatened by the soldiers that they will rape his wife and sister in front of him if he does not inform them where is his camera and the pictures that he has taken during the crisis. His camera and all related photography equipment and his wife’s car was confiscated by the soldiers.

After a month and a half of his detention without a lawyer, a phone call was placed to his family around one o’clock PM, informing them that his court date will be the next morning and if they want to bring him a lawyer. His lawyer requested from the general prosecutor to postpone his court date due to the shortage of time and wanting to meet with his client. Unfortunately, it never happened. He was accused of taking pictures and fabricating reality and public gathering.

His lawyer requested an appeal and until this day he was not allowed to have an appeal day. The family members had met with Dr. Ashraf Bassioni head of the Bahrain Investigational Commission who promised to visit Hassan, but unfortunately nothing happened.

Seven months have passed and Mr. Hassan Matooq is jailed and sentenced to three years in prison without an appeal. He is only allowed to have two phone calls per week and two visits with his family per month.

We urge you to do something for this medic. All that he did was to volunteer to help and provide care to wounded patients. His guilt is demonstrating his hobby and holding his camera that he loves. We urge the nursing societies and photography societies to support Mr. Hassan Matooq.”

You can view some of Hassan’s photos here.

Please sign and promote the petition to request the release of Hassan and two other medical workers who do not deserve to spend a single day more in prison.

If you would like to post an expression of support to Hassan and his family you may do so below. Please note that all comments will be moderated and we will not publish anything that is offensive.

Read about the other medics currently in prison here.

9 comments

1 ping

Skip to comment form ↓

Rabab asghar

October 28, 2011 at 7:13 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

Dear Hassan
I feel so sorry for you. You were one of my best students that I taught having nice smile all the time and being respectful of your teachers and hard working student. I will always pray for your urgent release.
One of your teachers
Dr Mahmood

October 28, 2011 at 8:01 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

I would like to express my sympathy and support to Hasan’s family. You should be proud of Hasan who is well known to all SMC staff. He is very active, sincere and distinctive in his work. People like him should be outside the prisons, helping patients and developing the country. Anyhow, I am sure that he is very strong and patient. I ask his family and his beautiful daughter to be strong and patient as well and “in shaa allah” he will be released soon. We all love you Hasan.
Nabeel H Tammam

October 28, 2011 at 9:57 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

We demand the immediate unconditioned release of the remaining Bahraini Medics, Hasan Matooq, Ali Al Maqabi, Younis Ashoor and Yousif Yaqoub.

Stay strong Hasan.

Nabeel
linda williams

October 29, 2011 at 8:20 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

What a travesty of justice & humanity to treat a caring and valuable individual so harshly.
I am shocked at the treatment you had. You photos on Flickr are wonderful, showing your artistry and skill.
You are not forgotten; Europe and America are aware of the cruelty of the Bahrain Gvt and the wrong actions they have done.
NB

October 31, 2011 at 8:49 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

What kind of people do such terrible things to their healers ?

What form of low life is in power that treats good men in such a way ?

You who have done this are being judged in life for your actions and so in death you will be judged. Respect your fellow countrymen, release them and make peace with your God for your truly wicked acts.

How do you stand in front of your own children knowing you have done this to another child’s father – you should feel shame.
Brother A. shaheed Almarkhi

November 19, 2011 at 1:57 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

what ever they did to you and to all A/E department nurses will not stop us to treat patients and to be advocaters for them and don’t forget our statment ” prove me wrong you are right” and no one can say what ever we did is wrong threfore we will continue what we start. people is fighting for you and i am sure i will see you soon.
Mounther

November 26, 2011 at 9:15 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

Never forget his kindness and for sure his smile,.,,, hope he will be free soon, a year ago i was operated in salmanyia and i never forgot him….
Hana

November 29, 2011 at 3:15 pm (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

Hope you will be free soon
we all proud of you
Zahra

January 14, 2012 at 11:51 am (UTC 1) Link to this comment

Reply

Our brother Hasan,
I am one of Interns who worked with you for short time in SMC. I just got to know that those dirty hands reached you too. I feel v. sorry but at the same time be sure that you are the victor. Serious times require people like you, able to carry the burden of responsibilities. You are the people of dignity and Honor, we NEVER forget you; the light of a new day is coming soon…

Dear Hasan,
You are free and they are slaves. You was moved by the RIGHT and humanity , and they were controlled by MONEY and animosity. They accepted slavery for this, and you preferred freedom for that.

They got the money, BUT, can they sleep comfortably like you??