talks to Fatemah Farag about the trials and tribulations of standing by her man -- Mamdouh Hamza, the Egyptian engineering consultant currently facing charges of soliciting murder in the UK The appointment was at the Cairo offices of Hamza Associates, in a conference room filled with plaques testifying to engineer Mamdouh Hamza's success: the Deep Foundations Institute Outstanding Project Award, the Australian Geomechanics Society Special Recognition Award, the Newsmaker award from McGraw Hill Construction, and an award from the Japanese Geotechnical Society -- to name just a few. Engineer was propelled into the limelight when her husband, the renowned consultant best known for the construction of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Mubarak Lifting Station in Toshka, was arrested in London on 12 July on charges of four counts of soliciting murder. It is an unwanted notoriety that she attempts to handle with grace and perseverance. A professional in her own right, Hatem begins by specifying the terms of the interview. "While we are very appreciative of the reaction of the Egyptian press and public [to Hamza's arrest] we also appreciate that the case is before the British judicial system. Therefore I can't speak about the case. At the same time I have great faith in British justice and I am very confident in our solicitors, Bindman and Partners." A deep breath and then an unwanted flashback to July -- "We had received an invitation to attend the Queen's garden party from the Lord Chamberlain. We had been invited once before, but because Mamdouh was busy, we had to apologise. Isn't that ironic?" This time around a different kind of RSVP was in store. The couple left for London on 12 July. "We arrived around noon and had a very pleasant day; lunch and shopping. Mamdouh insisted that I buy a hat for the party, and as we were shopping at around 7.30pm, he received a call." When Hamza took leave of her after the call, she had no idea that it would be the last she would see of him for some time. "I was so tired that I [later] fell asleep in front of the TV. I woke up at around 11.30pm, and was surprised to find he had not returned. There was no answer on his mobile, and I did not realise what was going on until the following morning," Hatem said. It would take Hatem two weeks to obtain permission to visit her husband. "I panicked. I knew nothing of the legal system and had no idea regarding what was going on," she said. At the time, their 17-year-old daughter was attending the Global Young Leaders of the World Conference in Vienna -- one of 30 students chosen from across the globe. "I did not want to upset her and so I called my older son [who is 20], who was in Egypt undertaking a summer internship programme. I was so worried, and I needed one of my children to be with me." Since, in her words, she didn't want to overly alarm her son, she told him she was ill and asked him to come immediately. According to Hatem, "he has been wonderful. The first thing he set out to accomplish upon his arrival was to find the best criminal lawyer for his father. He spent day and night on the Internet to learn more about the British legal system. We learned about it all the hard way." Since then Hatem has taken on an immense responsibility. She is the family s pokesperson, following the details of her husband's case, in addition to the lives of her children, and the business. Sitting at Hamza's desk -- where only a few months ago Al-Ahram Weekly interviewed Hamza himself -- she answers three phones while following up on Hamza Associates' business as well as her own private firm's work. "I am only in Cairo for one week," she explains between phone calls. "The staff here is top notch but I am here for moral support. And we hope in two weeks that the London Office of Hamza Associates will be fully functional." That office will help Hamza conduct his business since he must remain in England until 16 May, when the case will next come before the court. And while business is being sorted out, the family is scattered around the world. The son is in Cambridge, the daughter is back in Cairo to attend school, and the mother and father are in London. Hatem, meanwhile, has also been rediscovering the man she has lived with for over 20 years. "What has sustained me through this experience is the support extended by the many people who know Hamza. There was the telephone call from the Cairo kiosk owner who wanted to inform me of his support, and the letter from a tour guide who heard of the case and also wanted to express his support. So many people have contacted me to tell me about deeds of generosity my husband has undertaken that I never even knew about." Hamza was released without bail, but is required to register himself every day to prove he has not left England. "We have complete mobility within England," Hatem said. The time slot during which Hamza must register himself every day has been extended from 10am-6pm, to 7am-10pm. On Monday, while crossing the street, Hamza tripped and ended up having to go to the hospital to treat the minor injuries he sustained as a result. "We are coping," Hatem tells the Weekly, "But we must accept the fact that we are in a crisis. Yet I believe in my husband's innocence 100 per cent, and every morning when I wake up I thank God for giving me the strength to go on working, believing, and doing what has to be done."
