CAIRO - I don't know what to write about this week. I've tried hard to find something to talk about but seriously I can't. Through my years of writing I always preferred discussing things that will cheer you up and maybe even make you laugh. I understand that the world has enough problems and when people read the music section they expect to be entertained, but… sometimes it's hard for anyone to do provide that kind of entertainment. How am I supposed to sound happy and talk about songs when more than 70 people were killed only days ago for no reason whatsoever? That's not to mention those who were injured. If we were at war with a mighty enemy, this figure of more than to dead would still have been shocking for one battle, so it's hard to imagine that it all happened in a soccer match. On my Facebook account I posted the picture of a child called Anas, who was brutally murdered right after the match. Minutes later, a friend commented “Amr, Anas is a friend of my nephew.” I was dumbstruck because I know that nephew. I know how young he is and even though I knew that Anas was only a child, realising that he was a friend of someone I know and once carried in my arms made me feel worse. Last Friday, right outside the Ahly Club entrance, I saw a senior citizen crying. I didn't need an explanation – everyone knew that he must have lost someone dear in that massacre. Still, I approached him and then he said, “My son, Mohamed Mahrous, was killed and we didn't know where he was so we kept looking for him for two days until we found his body at the morgue. His ID card and cell phone were lost so no-one knew who he was and we were not contacted. We kept searching until we found the body with the word ‘unidentified' written on it.” The poor man could hardly tell his story because he was in tears and, as soon as he had finished, he burst out crying again. I was speechless and didn't know what to do. The man was leaning on the shoulder of a young guy who turned out to be his other son. This young guy said, “I'm trying to be strong for my dad but it's very hard.” Then he too burst into tears and left me wishing there was something I could've done. But what can anyone do now? We can't bring the dead back to life. I kept thinking about the final minutes in the lives of those children and young people. It must have been worse than the worst nightmare ever. Some say that they were calling for help but no-one listened. I have seen a video which proved that the Port Said Stadium doors were welded shut! To do such a thing you have to use a machine, which is not only big, but also makes a very loud noise and the sparks it generates are seen a mile away. Many must have seen and heard this machine and yet no-one knew that this was going to happen. It was a trap and the heart of an entire nation has been broken. This massacre will never be forgotten. The final story I would like to include is about a 16-year-old boy called Mohamed Khaled, whose photos were all over social networks recently – just another missing person after the match and his family were trying to locate him. Yes, his body was found on Saturday. I guess I will never forget his innocent face and smile in the picture posted. Ironically, a TV person made fun of the whole situation and those who were murdered. He was trying to prove that the massacre was not a big deal and said “they were attending a soccer match” as if it's alright to kill soccer fans. How impressive. What a big heart! Would he have said the same thing if his children had been killed there? I know this week's article is much shorter than the usual, but I have nothing else to say. [email protected]
