Manama: The parents of the Kuwaiti teenager suspected of killing his friend in Sharjah have expressed regret over the tragedy and offered publicly their condolences to the victim’s family.
Kuwait was shocked last week to hear that Yousuf Hamad Al Bader Al Subah, a member of the ruling family, was accused of killing Mubarak Mishal, a compatriot teenager and a close friend.
The two were attending a university in Sharjah.
“We deeply deplore what happened and we feel the pain of losing Mubarak, may God rest his soul in eternal peace, as one of our sons,” Shaikh Hamad Al Bader Al Subah, the suspect’s father, said. “I am saddened and pained by the tragedy and by what happened between my son Yousuf and Mubarak whom I see as one of my own sons,” he said in remarks published by local Arabic daily Al Watan.
The father said that the two teenagers were very close and that he had never thought the destiny of their friendship would be dramatic.
“I reiterate that the victim is like my son. I swear that am shocked by what happened since Yousuf and Mubarak had always been close friends who loved each other, spent time together and went out together,” the father said.
Shaikh Hamad said that the two were so close that his son opted to wait for Mubarak to graduate from high school to start university together.
“Yousuf got admitted at the university in July, but he said that he would take some time out until Mubarak completed his term and the two would go together to the university in Sharjah,” the father said.
The two left for the UAE in January to start the university and chose to live in the same apartment.
“Whenever I called, I spoke with both of them. Hearing their two voices gave me the assurance I needed to feel at ease,” the father said.
Shaikh Hamad said that he felt for Mubarak’s parents.
“May God grant them fortitude and resilience. We are all saddened by the tragedy that struck us and the loss of Mubarak. He was like my son. May God rest his soul in eternal peace,” Shaikh Hamad said.
Yousuf’s mother told Al Watan daily that she had been under profound shock since she heard about the tragedy.
“Yousuf and Mubarak were very close and they were like brothers since their early childhood,” she said. “My son Yousuf insisted on waiting for Mubarak to start the university. I am shocked by what happened. I am really saddened by the death of Mubarak whom I see as my own son. When he wanted to apply to study abroad, my husband and I took his application and documents to the Emiri Court to have the crown prince sponsor his studies. He was like our son and we wanted him to be treated as such,” she said.
The mother said that she felt for Mubarak’s family.
“Our hearts bleed with them and we join them in prayers. I swear that Mubarak is like our own son. May God rest his soul in eternal peace,” she said.
