Wife of murderer who stabbed young woman to death: He carried out “an act of heroism”
Headline: “Serving a life sentence – prisoner Maher Al-Hashlamoun loved to swim, engage in trade, and travel”
“Mrs. Bahiya Al-Natsheh, wife of prisoner Maher Al-Hashlamoun, and her 2 children, Ibadah and Maryam, live in a house in which you can see signs of a life of abundance, next to her family’s house. This is after the occupation forces destroyed the house of her husband, who was taken to the occupation prison where he is serving a life sentence. [In addition, he was given a] fine of $1,000,000. Prisoner Maher Al-Hashlamoun (31) carried out a stabbing operation (i.e., terror attack) against a settler, in which 2 additional people were injured, next to the Gush Etzion junction north of Hebron, at the end of 2014. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida met with the prisoner’s wife at her home in Hebron, and this interview took place:”
[…] (At the beginning of the interview the reporter asked his wife general questions about her husband’s interests and job, and also about the first time he was in prison, in 2000-2005, for throwing a Molotov cocktail. The questions and answers portrayed him favorably. –Ed.)
“Q. ‘What happened on the day of the operation (i.e., stabbing attack)?’
A. ‘It was a regular day, from the beginning until the last moment. On the same day, we even planned a trip to Amman for a couple days for a break in the routine, and then the surprising news arrived, that such a quiet, gentle man carried out this act of heroism… Everything that happened that day was normal, except for his will, and the fact that he informed me that it was in the writing desk in the house. Since we were accustomed to writing it, it didn’t raise any suspicions in my heart.’
Q. ‘How did you receive the news, and what was your first response to it?’
A. ‘In the past I used to complain about the smallest things, like any person accustomed to comforts in all areas of life, and because of the smallest things I felt that the end of the world was coming. But on that day, I found [in myself] only praise [for Allah], and tranquility accompanied me all the time.’
Q. ‘How has the imprisonment influenced his soul, your soul, and the children’s souls?’
A. ‘As I told you, the first imprisonment experience was very difficult for Maher, and therefore I wished for what no sensible person could wish for. I wished that he would die rather than be tortured and taken to prison. But praise be to Allah, I found Maher resolute, and even more – I found him full of indescribable joy. He was always optimistic and full of hope, and that is what strengthens me. Due to all his joy and optimism, every time he talks to me I suspect he knows he is about to be released within a few hours, and is hiding it from me in order to surprise me!
As for me and my children, I’ll start with me. If not for Allah, I would have lost all meaning in life, because Maher was a father, brother, friend, and husband. Maher was my whole life, and therefore I wished to leave the whole world behind, and join him in his dark cell. As for our children, 8-year-old Ibadah and 6-year-old Maryam, they have suffered greatly. If we want to talk about it, we will need hours. But I say, praise Allah, I have found a refuge for them in prayer and hope. Every time they make a request of me, such as going to some city, I say to them: “Let us pray,” and we pray to Allah to return Maher to us, so he can take us wherever we wish.’”
Maher Al-Hashlamoun – carried out a terror attack at the entrance to the Jewish West Bank town of Alon Shvut on Nov. 10, 2014. He drove his car into a group of people standing at a bus stop, then got out of his car and stabbed and killed Dalia Lamkus, 26, and wounded several others with a knife before being shot and evacuated to Hadassah Hospital in serious condition.
“Mrs. Bahiya Al-Natsheh, wife of prisoner Maher Al-Hashlamoun, and her 2 children, Ibadah and Maryam, live in a house in which you can see signs of a life of abundance, next to her family’s house. This is after the occupation forces destroyed the house of her husband, who was taken to the occupation prison where he is serving a life sentence. [In addition, he was given a] fine of $1,000,000. Prisoner Maher Al-Hashlamoun (31) carried out a stabbing operation (i.e., terror attack) against a settler, in which 2 additional people were injured, next to the Gush Etzion junction north of Hebron, at the end of 2014. Al-Hayat Al-Jadida met with the prisoner’s wife at her home in Hebron, and this interview took place:”
[…] (At the beginning of the interview the reporter asked his wife general questions about her husband’s interests and job, and also about the first time he was in prison, in 2000-2005, for throwing a Molotov cocktail. The questions and answers portrayed him favorably. –Ed.)
“Q. ‘What happened on the day of the operation (i.e., stabbing attack)?’
A. ‘It was a regular day, from the beginning until the last moment. On the same day, we even planned a trip to Amman for a couple days for a break in the routine, and then the surprising news arrived, that such a quiet, gentle man carried out this act of heroism… Everything that happened that day was normal, except for his will, and the fact that he informed me that it was in the writing desk in the house. Since we were accustomed to writing it, it didn’t raise any suspicions in my heart.’
Q. ‘How did you receive the news, and what was your first response to it?’
A. ‘In the past I used to complain about the smallest things, like any person accustomed to comforts in all areas of life, and because of the smallest things I felt that the end of the world was coming. But on that day, I found [in myself] only praise [for Allah], and tranquility accompanied me all the time.’
Q. ‘How has the imprisonment influenced his soul, your soul, and the children’s souls?’
A. ‘As I told you, the first imprisonment experience was very difficult for Maher, and therefore I wished for what no sensible person could wish for. I wished that he would die rather than be tortured and taken to prison. But praise be to Allah, I found Maher resolute, and even more – I found him full of indescribable joy. He was always optimistic and full of hope, and that is what strengthens me. Due to all his joy and optimism, every time he talks to me I suspect he knows he is about to be released within a few hours, and is hiding it from me in order to surprise me!
As for me and my children, I’ll start with me. If not for Allah, I would have lost all meaning in life, because Maher was a father, brother, friend, and husband. Maher was my whole life, and therefore I wished to leave the whole world behind, and join him in his dark cell. As for our children, 8-year-old Ibadah and 6-year-old Maryam, they have suffered greatly. If we want to talk about it, we will need hours. But I say, praise Allah, I have found a refuge for them in prayer and hope. Every time they make a request of me, such as going to some city, I say to them: “Let us pray,” and we pray to Allah to return Maher to us, so he can take us wherever we wish.’”
Maher Al-Hashlamoun – carried out a terror attack at the entrance to the Jewish West Bank town of Alon Shvut on Nov. 10, 2014. He drove his car into a group of people standing at a bus stop, then got out of his car and stabbed and killed Dalia Lamkus, 26, and wounded several others with a knife before being shot and evacuated to Hadassah Hospital in serious condition.