Muhammad Al-Zughair, a wounded prisoner who was 31 years old, narrowly averted death in front of his home in Hebron, in the southern occupied West Bank, 21 years ago.
Before the occupation assassinated Muhammad’s dreams in their infancy and hit him with a missile that burnt his body and torched the entire vehicle, he was a dreamy child, no older than ten, decorating his father’s new car in front of their home on the fifth of April 2002.
The prisoner Muhammad’s father, Amin Al-Zughair, claimed in an interview with the “Safa” agency that his son miraculously survived death despite having burns covering more than 90% of his body.
According to him, Muhammad was treated in hospitals in Hebron and the occupied interior, spent three months in a coma following his accident, and regained his ability to walk seven years later.
He said that up until his arrest, his kid was receiving therapy to prevent complications from the burns that covered his entire body and that he had lost one hand and a few fingers on the other.
He noted that his son had undergone several surgeries in Egypt and Jordan before being prevented from traveling to finish his treatment, saying, “The occupation did not suffice with burning Muhammad, but rather pursued him in his treatment journey and prevented him a year ago from traveling to undergo surgery in Cairo.”
Muhammad “suffered for 21 years from his wounds that did not heal and moved between hospitals, deprived of his childhood and the continuation of his education,” the speaker continued.
Muhammad was detained by the occupying forces on the ninth of this month despite having serious health issues on charges of hurling stones at the occupation soldiers.
Muhammad’s father claimed that the occupation had prevented him from using his hand to hurl stones at his soldiers and that his detention was simply intended to cover up his repeated crimes against his son.
He claimed that Muhammad removed some of his clothing when he was being arrested in order to show the troops the signs of burns and sores on his body as well as the seriousness of his medical condition, but the soldiers brutally detained him and forbade him from wearing a coat.
Muhammad was burned by the occupiers, who also blocked him from receiving medical attention. Now, without any justification, he is being detained. Al-Zughair adds that in order to hold the occupation accountable for its crimes, human rights organizations should bring the case of his son to international courts.
The Prisoners’ Club estimates that there are 700 sick inmates in the occupied prisons who have poor health, including 200 who have chronic illnesses.