How I fled my attackers
By BASMA MOHAMMED , Posted on » Wednesday, April 27, 2011
A POET stabbed by two anti-government thugs has described how he crashed into a police checkpoint in a **antic bid to escape his attackers.
Abdulaziz Al Madawi told the GDN he was attacked because he had decorated his car with images of Bahrain's leaders.
He had just left a petrol station when he was flagged down by two men in Hamad Town on Thursday.
When he pulled over they attacked him with a knife, wounding him in the face, thigh and abdomen.
"My children had decorated the car with photos of His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness (Prime Minister) Prince Khalifa (bin Salman Al Khalifa) as a show of gratitude and love," Mr Al Madawi told the GDN.
"We were visiting a relative who lives in Hamad Town near Roundabout 14. I dropped the family at the house and went to get petrol."
He said as he was leaving the petrol station the men signalled for him to stop, which he did since they were "well dressed" and did not look suspicious.
"I approached them in my car," said Mr Al Madawi.
"One said that he saw my car decorated with photos of the leadership and asked why that was.
"I responded that it was a show of support and love.
"The man then sarcastically told me to send a message across to the leadership - and that's when he stabbed my thigh with a knife without warning."
Mr Al Madawi said he barely managed to accelerate away **om his assailants by driving towards blue flashing lights in the distance, which turned out to be a police checkpoint.
"I was barely driving, but made myself head towards the blue lights - which I was sure were either a police patrol or checkpoint," he said.
"I then crashed the roadblock and the last thing I remember was people asking me what was wrong. Then I passed out."
The 45-year-old is now recovering at home after being discharged **om the BDF Hospital on Saturday night.
He said he was now penning a poem about the incident, in which he plans to thank his attackers for making him more determined than ever to express his support for Bahrain and its leaders.
"Such people will not intimidate me just because I love my leadership and country," he added.
Mr Al Madawi revealed his children had responded to the attack by decorating their house with images of Bahrain's leaders.
"It is just to show that we love our country and leadership and nothing will change that," he explained.
The former BDF officer said his wounds were still causing him sleepless nights, but said a visit by the Prime Minister on Saturday had given him courage.
"The Premier's visit was such an honour to me that I forgot my pain right away," said Mr Al Madawi.
"He told me that every drop of my blood was dear to him. That statement made me forget everything and smile."
The well-known poet - who has published two books - is now working on a third compilation of prose honouring the country and its leaders, which is expected to be completed by July.
Ironically, his second book is called Al Jarh Al Akheer, which translates as "The Last Wound".
The GDN reported on Sunday that HRH Prince Khalifa had pledged that Mr Al Madawi's attackers would be brought to justice.
He also condemned the attack and said the government remained steadfast in its determination to prevent such incidents.
Abdulaziz Al Madawi told the GDN he was attacked because he had decorated his car with images of Bahrain's leaders.
He had just left a petrol station when he was flagged down by two men in Hamad Town on Thursday.
When he pulled over they attacked him with a knife, wounding him in the face, thigh and abdomen.
"My children had decorated the car with photos of His Majesty King Hamad and His Royal Highness (Prime Minister) Prince Khalifa (bin Salman Al Khalifa) as a show of gratitude and love," Mr Al Madawi told the GDN.
"We were visiting a relative who lives in Hamad Town near Roundabout 14. I dropped the family at the house and went to get petrol."
He said as he was leaving the petrol station the men signalled for him to stop, which he did since they were "well dressed" and did not look suspicious.
"I approached them in my car," said Mr Al Madawi.
"One said that he saw my car decorated with photos of the leadership and asked why that was.
"I responded that it was a show of support and love.
"The man then sarcastically told me to send a message across to the leadership - and that's when he stabbed my thigh with a knife without warning."
Mr Al Madawi said he barely managed to accelerate away **om his assailants by driving towards blue flashing lights in the distance, which turned out to be a police checkpoint.
"I was barely driving, but made myself head towards the blue lights - which I was sure were either a police patrol or checkpoint," he said.
"I then crashed the roadblock and the last thing I remember was people asking me what was wrong. Then I passed out."
The 45-year-old is now recovering at home after being discharged **om the BDF Hospital on Saturday night.
He said he was now penning a poem about the incident, in which he plans to thank his attackers for making him more determined than ever to express his support for Bahrain and its leaders.
"Such people will not intimidate me just because I love my leadership and country," he added.
Mr Al Madawi revealed his children had responded to the attack by decorating their house with images of Bahrain's leaders.
"It is just to show that we love our country and leadership and nothing will change that," he explained.
The former BDF officer said his wounds were still causing him sleepless nights, but said a visit by the Prime Minister on Saturday had given him courage.
"The Premier's visit was such an honour to me that I forgot my pain right away," said Mr Al Madawi.
"He told me that every drop of my blood was dear to him. That statement made me forget everything and smile."
The well-known poet - who has published two books - is now working on a third compilation of prose honouring the country and its leaders, which is expected to be completed by July.
Ironically, his second book is called Al Jarh Al Akheer, which translates as "The Last Wound".
The GDN reported on Sunday that HRH Prince Khalifa had pledged that Mr Al Madawi's attackers would be brought to justice.
He also condemned the attack and said the government remained steadfast in its determination to prevent such incidents.
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