Manama: The Kuwaiti student who was killed in Sharjah was hoping to become a lawyer to defend people treated unfairly, his father said.
“My son Mubarak was friendly and had boundless ambitions,” Mishal Mubarak Hussain said. “His dream was to study law to become a famous lawyer and defend the oppressed. Unfortunately, the hand of treachery has robbed him of his youth and shattered his dreams,” he said as his son was laid to rest in his native Kuwait.
Mubarak Mishal died in Sharjah reportedly after he was repeatedly beaten up and tortured by his Kuwaiti flat mate and an accomplice.
The flat mate, Shaikh Yousuf Hamad Bader Al Subah, has been described as a very close childhood friend.
The two suspects have been held in the UAE and the investigation into the case continues.
“My son’s death is a tragedy to me personally and to the whole family,” the father said. “We were shocked to learn that my son’s closest friend Shaikh Yousuf is among those who killed him. Shaikh Yousuf is very close and often visited us with other friends. He is a well respected young man and I really do not know what happened,” he told local Arabic daily Al Qabas.
The father said that he last heard from his son one week before his death.
“I was not aware of any dispute or differences with any of his friends either in Kuwait or in Sharjah where he is studying,” he said.
Mubarak left Kuwait for the UAE on January 27 to start his first college year as a law student at Sharjah University and opted to share an accommodation in the UAE city with his childhood friends.
“He regularly communicated with us and calls between us were almost daily. If we fail to call, he gets in touch to see how we are doing,” the father said.
One week before his death, Mubarak told his family that he needed money for his university studies.
“I transferred the money through a money exchange to the university bank account. However, he called to say that he did not receive the money. When I checked with the exchange, they assured me that the money had been transferred to the university account. I contacted him again and he said that he had not received the money. I made another transfer to the same account and two days later, I called the university and they confirmed that they received the money and that my son could withdraw the amount of money he wanted at any time. I informed him, but I am not sure whether he was able to withdraw the money,” the father said.
It was the last contact between Mubarak and his family.
“When we called again at different times, the mobile was invariably switched off. We thought that he went for another number. His mother called Shaikh Yousuf who was with him at the university and he said that he would convey the message, but Mubarak did not call us,” the father said.
A few days later, the family heard that the Twitter social network was reporting that a young Kuwaiti man called Mubarak Mishal Al Adwani had been tortured to death.
“I was not alarmed because there is no Adwani in my full name and my son is known as Mubarak Mishal Mubarak. However, my brother told me that the descriptions mentioned in the microblog fitted those of my son.”
Mubarak’s uncle made the trip to Sharjah to check the death claims.
“He identified my son at the morgue and called me. It was a dramatic shock. I could not believe that I would never see my son again. I was especially shocked with the way he died.”
The father insisted that Mubarak had no issues with anyone and that he had cordial relations with all.
“I was truly saddened to hear that Shaikh Yousuf was among the suspects. He and Mubarak were very close friends and my son loved him dearly. They often went out together. I really do not know what happened over there,” he said.
His quest for answers to know how Mubarak died was not successful.
“I heard that he had been tortured to death, but I have no facts. When I asked my brother who saw the body at the morgue, he told me that Mubarak was dead and that people should pray for his soul. I think he did not wish to inform me about possible torture traces to manage my feelings,” he said.
Mishal said that he fully and completely trusted the UAE security and judges.
“I have full confidence in them. I heard that the Ruler said that since the crime was committed in the UAE, the case and the verdict will be in the UAE,” he said.
Kuwaiti media reported that Mubarak was buried in the Sulaibkhat graveyard amid dramatic scenes of sorrow.
