Yaser Al Masry is a pro-democracy activist from Sudan. Born in Niyala (Darfur), he was active in the Student Union and helped found a number of discussion groups such as the Nebras, Sham al Naseem, Al Manar in Niyal, all of which were considered anti-government political organizations. He founded newsletters among these groups. His torture was as a result of his participation in Nebras, he was incarcerated for 35 days. He distributed these newsletters throughout all the secondary schools. So, he became well known, especially in Darfur, but in Khartoum as well. His name was widely circulated in regional newspapers in 1993 because of his participation in these groups. He was arrested 11 times and released after lobbying by international groups for his release. After this incident he became known among many political circles in Sudan. During each of these encarcerations, he underwent torture, and many of his medical problems now are a result of this torture because in addition to physical torture, they would feed him toxic materials.
Fleeing persecution , Yaser sought refuge in Egypt and registered with the UNHCR, Cairo. He has been followed in Egypt by the government of Sudan since he arrived. At a Christmas party 2007 in 6th of October, government hired and directed groups kidnapped him and beat him for six days.
In April 2007 he was first diagnosed with hemorrhoids, and recommended that he be operated on for his hemorrhoids for a "Hemorrhoid Operation for Anal Fissure." He was given this diagnosis without an examination, and the doctor told him that he had this problem because he "didn't clean himself." Having no money, he did not undergo treatment. But was instead given two injections one for anesthesia and one for widening his anus because he had been constipated. On July 7th 2007, it was suspected that he had colon cancer. He was scheduled to come in to have the operation about 7-10 days before July 30th. He was in a common room with people with non-urgent cases. He stayed for two days in this waiting room where people were smoking. After two days of waiting, he left and returned on July 30th and paid 4,500 LE for a private room. They initially paid 3000LE, but they said that if they did not pay the remaining 1500LE, they would not bring the blood for the operation. They were planning to operate on him that day, but later he found out that they were planning to perform the wrong operation intended for another person. Even after he paid for the private room, they would not let his wife stay with him. He was operated on August 1st during which he removed 35 centimeters of the colon and the rectum. The tumor had extended to 25 cm, and cut 5 cm on each side. He endured chemotherapy from August 2007 until April 2008. During this period, the Caritas doctor had him sign that he had received chemotherapy treatments months before he had actually received them. In January 2008, the chemotherapy was discontinued for two weeks because he lacked funds. He received all of his chemotherapy in a clinic, not a hospital. So, he received his treatments in an hour, as opposed to the eight hour sessions they usually take.
Reapeated attempts to get the UNHCR to resettle him as a Medicial Emergency failed. Individual medical emergency requests were submitted to various embassies. When all hope was about to run out. In what can be called only as a miracle, Mr Al Masry was granted a Emergency Medical Visa to India to be treated.
Yaser's story is one of courage and a fight for human dignity. This blog is a tribute to the resilence of human spirit.....
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