DOHA: The family of a 52-year-old Qatari medical doctor who was arrested at Dubai airport on his way to Doha from Bangkok late last February is in deep agony as he remains untraced even a month after his detention.
The family’s agony is deepening as it has no clue as to why its lone bread-winner was taken into custody.
Dr Mahmoud Abdurrahman Al Jaida, who works in the state energy sector here, was taken into custody at Dubai airport when he was heading to Doha from Bangkok.
He has eight children, besides his wife, and one of his sons told Al Sharq they were having a harrowing time since there was no clue about their father even as more than a month had lapsed since he was arrested at Dubai airport on February 26.
“Our father had travelled to Thailand to see his brother who was under medical treatment there. When he was returning from Bangkok to Qatar he was arrested at Dubai airport,” Mahmoud’s son, Abdurrahman Al Jaida, aid.
He said they were in fact waiting for their father at the Doha International Airport on February 26 and when he did not arrive, they made an enquiry with Qatar Airways.
“When every passenger of the flight in which my father was supposed to be left the airport, we were concerned…We called the office of Qatar Airways to know the reason. They told us that my father did not board the flight from Dubai.”
“We tried to call him on his mobile phone but that was switched off. When we called the Qatari Consulate in Dubai they informed us that our father had been detained at Dubai Airport and was taken to Abu Dhabi airport.”
Abdurrahman said they approached the authorities concerned in Doha pleading for help. “They told us our father would be back within three
days so there was no need to worry.”
According to him, three days lapsed and yet there was no trace of their father.
“We contacted the authorities again and they told us that he was under custody and was under investigation but they claimed they did not know why he was detained,” said Abdurrahman.
Since he was arrested on February 26, Mahmoud called his family only once.
He talked to his wife on the phone barely for three minutes. He hasn’t called back
after that.
“We are in deep agony. We don’t even know why he has been arrested and when he would be back with us,” said the son.
The Peninsula
