AMAL OF SIEVX LEAVES US

Mary Dagmar Davies
18 March 2006
sievx.com

My friend, my sister, Amal Basry, the first to tell the story of the last hours of the people of SIEVX, died today. I thank God I spoke to her yesterday and was able to tell her that I loved her and that I cared.

Amal and I had shared so much time on the phone, we had laughed and we had cried together. She was courageous, funny and strong but yesterday all her strength was gone. Instinctively I knew this was our last conversation. She told me how many things she could not do anymore as though she felt she must apologise.

"Amal just relax. There is nothing you need to do. You have done everything that could ever be asked of anyone." I said.

Yes Amal had done everything that could ever be asked of anyone. She had in fact done so much more. Amal Basry was the bravest, most wonderful woman I have ever known. I heard her name for the first time on October 23, 2001 four days after the sinking of SIEVX when she was quoted in the media saying "Everybody has beautiful dreams about Australia." I first spoke to her in December 2003, when she agreed to be a patron of JANNAH THE SIEVX MEMORIAL, and our conversation continued until yesterday.

I felt as though I had known Amal Basry all my life and yet I only met her once. She was coming to Sydney for the opening of the National SIEV X Memorial Exhibition, on Tuesday 26th October 2004 and wanted to know what I looked like so she would recognise me. I asked her if she had seen 'Two Fat Ladies in the Kitchen'. She had, she loved to cook. I told her over the phone that I looked like Clarissa the blonde one. She laughed and I laughed and when we finally met we knew each other instantly and heedless of the packed church, we fell into an embrace - she cried and I cried.

I sat down with Amal and she introduced me as her sister to the other women Najah and Zeina and a mother who cries silently all the time and carries with her the photograph of her son who was not found among the survivors but she believes may still be alive. We all spoke in our own languages and Amal and one of the children with them translated occasionally but it seemed unnecessary as they showed me pictures of the people they had lost and kissed me and we embraced... there was no language barrier between those women and myself; we seemed to understand each other perfectly.

This was the first time I had ever met or spoken directly with the people of SIEVX. It was the first time I had been among refugees. It was also the first time I had ever conversed with any women wearing the Hajib. I was awed by the grace of these women who have suffered so much and I cannot see how one metre of fabric can make a difference between them and us.

I am fortunate that Amal Basry shared so much of her life, her experiences and her feelings with me. I spoke to one of the nurses who was caring for her in those last hours and told her about Amal and SIEVX. I thought it was important they know they were looking after a brave and brilliant woman. A woman who had survived for twenty hours in the sea among the dead and dying. She will be remembered with respect by people all over the world.

I seldom pray but I have prayed today. I seldom cry but I have cried today just as I cried when Amal and I first met. We both sobbed, we both said "I love you" and "You are my sister"; we seemed to say all this together as though we were one. I will never forget that loving hug. Amal felt warm and soft and wonderful, she felt as I remember my mother felt in happier times. My mother also died of breast cancer and her cancer like Amal's went into the bone and then the liver. Again today I feel as though I have lost my closest and dearest relative.

I am devastated by Amal's passing. I cannot and will not remove her name from JANNAH THE SIEVX MEMORIAL. Amal Basry's name will remain unchanged heading the list of Patrons of Jannah just as she will continue to inspire all of us who care.

My heart goes out to her family in Melbourne, Iraq and Iran. May God grant Amal Jannah and give her family the patience and strength to bear this loss.

Back to sievx.com