Fujairah: Fatima came to the UAE as a young bride of Saeed Abdullah Al Saadi some 40 years ago. Little did she realise then that four decades later she would be a proud mother of a martyr.
Her eldest son, Jasem Saeed Al Saadi, 24, laid down his life along with more than 50 fellow Emirati soldiers in an attack by Al Houthi militia on a UAE army camp in Yemen last month.
Jasem’s family is based in a village outside Fujairah on the East Coast of the UAE, where he was and is a hero and his family is proud to have the honour.
“My son was always at the forefront to help everyone and serve the community. Being the eldest among the siblings he took the responsibility as the breadwinner of the family at the age of 17, when he joined the army. It was his decision to join the army and he inspired others in the family and community to follow suit,” said Fatima.
Two sisters in the army
Following in Jasem’s footstep, two of his sisters, one of whom is a paratrooper, have joined the army. His younger brothers, who are still in school, are keen to walk the same path.
“I am ready to send all my children to defend our beloved nation and I would love to bear 11 more children to sacrifice for our great nation,” said Fatima, who has 11 children.
Recalling her fallen son’s dream, she said: “He always dreamt of building a mosque for the community and he was saving for that. Even a day before he fell in the line of duty, he called his sister and told her to sell the brand new car he had recently bought and donate the money for building a mosque. We are now doing our best to give his dream a shape.”
Being her eldest son, Fatima says, Jasem was the most beloved of her 11 children and was closest to her.
‘A special place in my heart’
“More than a son he was a friend to me. Though he is no more with us, he will always occupy a special place in my heart,” said Fatima, fighting back her tears.
His old father, all the while listening to our conversation, quietly wiped his eyes where the tears were beginning to form. His younger brother and two sons placed their arms around him to comfort him.
