Ibrahim El Kabesh

My name is Ibrahim El Kabesh. This name appears in the registry of all police stations in Saida.

“Ibrahim El Kabesh, disappeared on 4th October 1984”.

After having made all attempts to find me, my father thought that by requesting from all the police stations to investigate my fate, this would increase the chances of finding me.

Only sixteen years after registering my birth, he came to the authorities again to register my disappearance, this time with an aching heart. He told them all he knew about me: that I used to help him with his work as a chef in the cafeteria at Hammoud Hospital in Saida, and that I wanted to study hotel management because of the influence he had had on me.

On the day of my disappearance, I came to the hospital to drop off my motorcycle that I had recently bought. I then went to join my friends at the Cornish and since then, there has been no news about me.

My father had told this story many times to the police officers who, knowing in advance that they will not be able to help, did not pay him much attention.

Days and months have passed and the only information my family received, was that an explosion occurred on the same day of my disappearance. This information, without any other detail, was supposed to be an explanation for my disappearance.

In everyone’s eyes, my family was no longer supposed to ask any further questions. To them I was probably dead and my family was supposed to mourn me. Yet after thirty two years, the uncertainty of my fate still causes immense pain for my family.

My name is Ibrahim El Kabesh. My story does not end here.