Abdel Bari Atwan as true hero

In our present days politics became a part of our lives. We get affected by politics and we try to interact with it to create the true image of our country and our people. However, playing the game of politics is very dangerous and might cost us our lives. We as Arabs do not have a chance to express our thoughts and beliefs through multimedia to the whole world. We just keep those thoughts either in our minds and never speak about them, or share the information with our friends and relatives only. All that is because we are scared of many punishments we might get from our own government and other countries. Yet, there are few who speak for the rights of their country and their people. They stand in the way of fear and replace fear with hope. Although, they know they might get arrested or killed. Also, they represent the true image of those who claim Arabs as terrorists.

Dr. Abdel Bari Atwan is one of those who speak for their country, never accept making friendship with those who destroyed the world at any cost and fights propaganda.

During my survey with Dr. Jamal Al Majaida, a journalist at the Emirates news agency, and as a friend to Mr. Atwan, according to wikipedia.com, I was able to find some information about Mr.Abdel Bari that represents his background and the way leading him to become a great Politian. “Abdel Bari was born on February 17th 1950 in Dair Al-Balah a place in Gaza strip, he lived in a family of 13 members.” “Moreover, he entered Cairo University on 1970 and studied journalism and also received a diploma in English-Arabic translation.

However, after his graduation he was working as a journalist at Al- Balaagh newspaper in Libya, then moved to Saudi Arabia to work with Al-Madina newspaper. Then he decided to travel abroad to have a better chance of expressing his thoughts and idea’s to the world, So in 1978 he traveled to London and worked with Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Saudi owned newspaper. After that, he received the opportunity to become the editor-in-chef of Al-Quds Al-Arabi newspaper, which he has held since then. In 1989, al-Quds al-Arabi was founded by expatriate Palestinians and Abd al-Bari Atwan was offered the job as editor-in-chief, which he has held since.”

In addtion, and according to Atwans book (The Secret History Of Al Qaeda) and wikipedia.com, Atwan is also well-known for his meeting with the creator of Al-Qaeda organization Osama bin laden. “In 1996 Abdel Bari Atwan had a privet interview with Osama Bin Laden and as believed he was the last journalist to interview him before the attempts of 9/11 on the United States. And as he mentioned his journey as a misery he believes that this meeting made a great change in his life. As he mentioned “In 1996 Abd al-Bari Atwan had to travel through the mountains, dressed in Afghan clothing. He later called the experience his "most frightening trip". His impression of bin Laden was that he is "a phenomenon, extreme". He stayed in the caves for four days, sleeping in primitive conditions in sub-zero temperatures.”

Additionally, I was able to find some interesting political opinions by Abdel Bari Atwan about the most resent and important events in our world. One of the opinion was about his book “The secret history of Al Qaeda” as he said “I do not endorse or in any way support al-Qa'ida's agenda" and "I utterly condemn the attacks on innocent citizens in the West.” People like Abdel Bari Atwan are hard to find, must be supported and must be considered as true heros.

They stand in the way of lies, and tell the truth without hesitation. They always fight for the right of their countries and try to stop the suffering of their people. No one can stop such heros, because they were born with a message to the world, and will present it even if death was approaching.

(American University - Sharjah)