First Grain of Sand — Page 119
THE TORTURE BEGINS 103 Among his many questions during the assessment, the civil surgeon asked whether I prefer the prison or the hospital. I said prison is hell for me, whereas the hospital is a mercy. He then asked if I prefer the hospital or freedom. I said compared to free- dom, the hospital is a place of trouble and suffering for me, to which the surgeon immediately retorted that I had just called the hospital a mercy. I answered that the hospital is a mercy when compared to the prison and also because I was injured, but now that I am healthy, the hospital is a source of pain and suffering for me when compared to freedom. As the assessment, which was conducted in the presence of the State Prosecutor and translator, came to a close, the surgeon asked me why I had to face so many pains and troubles in the prison. I told him there were two reasons. Firstly, there was a scholar placed in my prison cell with me, and all other inmates would ask religious questions to both him and myself. Since he did not possess much knowledge, the other prisoners found more satisfaction in my answers and began to develop more kinship with me as a result. For this reason, that scholar grew in opposition that became a source of pain for me. Hearing this, the surgeon asked me what I would have done if matters were reversed and I had been the one with less knowledge in comparison to another scholar with much greater knowledge and wisdom. I said in that situation, I would immediately defer to the other scholar and speak to him with great respect and seek the treasure of knowledge from him. Secondly, a very respected man of great wealth named Abdul Qadir was put into my cell as a spy of the Russian government. Ever since he came to spy on me and deliver false information