Mother of a Hizbullah "Martyr" Tells Her Story

The following are excerpts from an interview with the mother of "Martyr" Bassel Ala' Al-Din, which aired on Al-Manar TV on May 22, 2005.

Presenter: The time has past when a mother was afraid that her son would be gone. Welcome to the resistance posts.

Mother: This gun belonged to the martyr Fadi Milhem. After his martyrdom, it was carried by the martyr Ziyad Zawa, and after Ziyad's martyrdom, it was carried by my son, the martyr Bassel Ala' Al-Din.

This Kalashnikov lived in the heart of the martyr Bassel. I knew everything about this gun, from Bassel's friends. I wanted this gun to remain with me so that Bassel's brothers would join the resistance and carry the same gun, so that it would never veer from the path of resistance. So that the martyr Bassel would continue to be at home with his weapon, his clothes, and everything.

Three days after the martyr Bassel's funeral, I asked for them: "At least bring me some of his clothes." Bring me something that carries his smell to keep close to my heart. I had hoped that the martyr Bassel's pants would be returned in one piece. But unfortunately... Bassel had a wish… He had a wish… Whenever I told him I wanted to marry him off, he would say: "Yes, mother, you'll marry me off like this in paradise." And indeed, the martyr Bassel got married in paradise. I congratulate the black-eyed virgins who took Bassel from me, who took my entire life.