Jailed, Flogged and Deported

Flogging in Pakistan

I first met Ed in the agency that sent us to Saudi Arabia. He was seated beside me in my initial flight to the Middle East.

The first year in the hospital was fine. Ed worked with ease until a letter from his girlfriend informed him that she is scheduled to leave for the USA in one month’s time.

Immediately Ed approached our “mudir” (manager) and begged for permission to fly home. Sadly, the manager pointed out that his contract was for two years and only after that time, can he go back to the Philippines. Upset, Ed stormed out and went straight to the telephone booth where he dialed for a connection for more than an hour. Frustrated, he hammered the phone and promptly walked towards the hospital. Sensing trouble, I followed him.

Inside the hospital Ed walked straight into the manager’s office. After a few minutes shouts were heard then a crashing sound followed. People ran towards the office and as we were about to reach for the doorknob it opened and Ed walked out towards our flat and into his room.

Policemen arrived and the manager talked with them, then they went to Ed’s room. As they got out I saw Ed, his hands cuffed, he looked at me and bowed his head. I tried to get near but the policemen circled him.

The next day news came out that Ed was jailed and will be flogged. His sentence: seven days in jail plus ten floggings.

After my duty, I immediately brought clothes, food and water for Ed. His eyes red and hair uncombed he walked towards me and stopped, between us was a wall of steel bars. Ed knew of his sentence and continued that he will also be deported.

At the end of the seven day prison term, Ed was brought to the marketplace, still handcuffed he was made to stand where many could see him. Then a policeman read a paper informing the people of the details on Ed’s verdict.

Then a policeman holding a stick alighted from the van. The stick was as big as my little finger and about one and a half feet long. The man twisted it to straighten a curve revealing that it was flexible. Without a word he went directly to Ed and quickly flogged him lightly on the back, so quick the ten supposed to be lashes appeared as slight pats and was over in two seconds. The humiliation is probably much more painful than the actual flogging.

Immediately after, Ed was sent to his room and was told to prepare for his flight. Ed was deported and perhaps arrived home just in time to see his girlfriend.

I never saw Ed since then.