They made me stand on my feet for a
very long time. They would extinguish their cigarettes on
my hand. They threw sugar syrup on my body so that the ants
would crawl over my body and sting me. They denied me food
and water and stopped me from going to the toilet. They beat
me all over and would say "Look at that crippled lawyer".
I saw a friend of mine in the prison who was bashed until
he died. That had a profound psychological impact on me.
I have been arrested many times….and they would torture
me psychologically and physically…that caused me a
lot of suffering….especially with my disability that
limits my movement.
Before I started working, I wasn't affected very badly by
the conflict, but once I started my career as a lawyer, I
felt the impact. As far back as I remember there had always
been problems in Sudan and with the Sudanese government.
I left Sudan on the 31/5/99 due to the great oppression
at that time. Leaving Sudan at that time was the only option
for safety and for me to protect myself and my family. I
started practicing as a lawyer in 1992. People are oppressed
in Sudan so I had to work to protect and defend human rights.
We formed a committee called the Committee to Defend Civil
Liberties. After that, the government started persecuting
us….me and another 4 people.
The last time I was arrested was 21/3/99…I was tortured
so badly and they refused to let me see my son to breast
feed him…. It is so hard to describe that time….So
we (Najewa, her husband and baby Ahmed) fled to Egypt and
there we faced a different kind of suffering. We didn't have
permanent residency, the right to work or to education. We
lived in Egypt for 2 and a half years and were treated very
badly….we lived under enormous pressure both financial
and emotional. I have always blamed myself and felt guilty
that my husband and child were displaced.
We arrived in Australia on the 13/12/01. I had a very strange
feeling when we arrived here but 2 days later the Foundation
contacted me - they were the first people. By visiting me
they eliminated so many of my fears. Every refugee has fears
when they come to a different country…because the
language, culture and lifestyle are so different here - they
helped me to feel secure and safe. I found safety and security
I couldn't find in my own country. I regained my self confidence…I
came here with so many emotional stresses and problems. To
be honest with you, to have the Foundation in my life was
like a baby's first cry; the start of a new life for me.
To help me grow as a healthy person…I feel that's
what they did, by taking care of me.
The Foundation helped me feel part of the Australian community.
They helped me and my family to resettle here…with
housing, with medical appointments and transport. When I
had my new baby (Amjed, born 2003), he was very sick and
their presence in my life was very important for me….they
still support me. They also helped me to become an honorary
member of Liberty Victoria.
If course I still think about the people who live in Sudan….I
am safe here but the problems are still going there…..killings,
assassinations, harassment, detention, torture….all
still happen there. I'm involved in the Sudanese community
here and we talk about human rights. I also talk on the Sudanese
radio program.
The Foundation is safety, security and trust for me. I wish
I could find a way to help the Foundation and protect it
from all harm. I hope that we can all put our hands together
and work together to help it grow and help more people.
Najewa Mohamed
Editor's Note: Excerpts taken from story as told to the
editor through an interpreter. At the time of writing, the
editor said farewell to Najewa, her husband and her two children
at the airport as they ventured back to Sudan, as Australian
citizens, to visit family they have not seen for almost seven
years. Najewa didn't take her wheelchair with her on the
trip….she wants to practice walking with her crutches
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