Flayed
By Nat Finkelstein
This was originally published in First of the Month in 2004.
I first sailed to Tangiers in 1964, aboard a Kaiser-built concrete poured WW2 Liberty ship operated by the Yugolinia line. From New York at 99 dollars for the passage: The Beatnik Express.
My lady friend and I rented a terraced apartment overlooking the northern end of Avenue de Mohamed V, a bit away from the expat/Zocco Chico beatnik set. Every day I would stroll a mile down tree-shaded trees through the European Sector, to the Café Paris to quaff a Citron, while observing the street action passing and learning the body language and pattern of sounds. Livin’ the life, like Papa Hemingway doin’ the Ol’ Boul’ Mich. I would then head for the Zocco Chico and the Café Central, to suck some Kif and mint tea with Little Mohammed, a young poet who was into Haiku. He had a cough, so we called him Consumptive Mohammed.
At the end of the day, I would stroll back home, enjoying the sights and sounds.
One day, while walking past a deserted stretch of road, I heard several loud, sustained screams: a child in severe pain. I rushed toward the sound and came upon four Moroccan young men, who having captured a hedgehog, were slowly, very slowly, skinning it while still alive. I wasn’t a hero – I saw four guys with knives.
The next day I asked Paul Bowles what I should have done: yell, scream, what, WHY? Paul told me that the Moroccans most likely had captured the hedgehog for food and were dismembering it alive for fun. He then told me the legend of the Treasure of Banu Nadir, as described in the Sirat Rasul Allah, the oldest known biography of Mohammed, written by Ibn Isbaq in the Eighth Century. It seems that the Jewish guardian of the treasure, Kinana, was brought before Mohammed, but refused to divulge the treasure’s location. Mohammed ordered Zubayn Al Awwam: “Torture him until you extract what he has.” Burning coals were placed on Kinana’s chest until he gave it up. After that, Mohammed chopped off Kinana’s head.
The next time I arrived in Tangiers was for a few days in 1965. I heard that One-Eyed Moe the Englishman had been busted with a gun. The Moroccans, at that time preparing for war with the newly liberated Algerians, were more interested in placing the blame on one of their own citizens than on the American who had actually sold the gun. They hung Moe by his heels, beat him across the ankles and forced water down his gullet until he named a young Moroccan poet – “Consumptive Mohammed “– as the supplier. Before he died in police custody, Mohammed the poet confessed to being an Algerian agent. I was never certain about Moe’s version until…
The last time I went to Morocco was 1975. I went with my then wife, Jill, and our two-year old son, Gustave-Che, who had Down’s Syndrome and was sickly. We shared a bungalow in a small beach resort south of el-Jadida with a couple of Canadians. Jill and I spent our time traveling to Marrakech and surrounding towns, where we purchased fossil imbedded marble tables and built the specialized crates needed to ship marble. We noticed that we seemed to be followed, and kept on seeing the same loiterer in every town we visited. We ascribed it to either racism or paranoia.
One day we picked up a friend at Casablanca Airport, had dinner and arrived home after dark.
They came in five cars, about ten of them. They parked about twenty meters or so from our house and pulled submachine guns from out of their back seats, charged up the hill to our house, pounded open the door and chambered their weapons.
I WILL STOP MY NARRATIVE AND STATE THAT FROM HERE ON, GUILT OR INNOCENCE IS NOT THE ISSUE. TREATMENT IS.
They leveled their guns at each of us and identified themselves as Surete. Jill pleaded with them to stop pointing their guns at our son Gustave. I said to the captain: “There are no weapons here. We will not resist you.” He signaled, and they lowered their weapons and frisked us. They found a small piece of hash in Jill’s pocket and announced that we were all under arrest. They commenced to search the house, our quarters first. They were quite methodical and careful not to damage our collection of 17th century Tibetan Statuary (which later disappeared). They found nothing. There was nothing there. They searched our housemates’ quarters and found four pounds of hash. They told me that I was responsible and transported us off to the gendarmerie.
AT THIS POINT I WILL STATE THAT DUE TO THIRTY YEARS OF DISTANCE AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS, SOME OF MY DETAILS MAY NOT BE IN ORDER: MY FACTS ARE. SO, I MAY SKIP SOME DETAILS, BUT HERE ARE FACTS.
They threaten you with pain such as you never have felt before. They separate you from your companions, and throw you into an underground dungeon, and tie you face to face with a Leper. That’s to soften you.
Obligatory whacks across the back of your head (s.o.p). They let you know that this will be rough: that you will be hurt. You decide to adopt a strategy because what they tell you, human beings don’t do to other human beings. You call their bluff, and then a pig in a uniform asks a question and you don’t answer…AND THE CURTAIN GOES DOWN BLACK. AND YOU GET A TASTE OF COPPER IN YOU MOUTH AND THE TASTE OF BLOOD AND PURPLE AND BLUE FLASHES CUT ACROSS YOUR SCREEN AND YOU HEAR SOMEONE SCREAM SCREAM SCREAM…SOMEWHERE IN THE DISTANCE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER AND IT’S YOU.
Because they have stripped you buck naked, hung you upside down on a pole, wet you, hooked you up to a hand cranked generator by your ears and jolted your reality into one of pure pain. So, you change the strategy ‘cause the last one didn’t work so good.
The French used imported Moroccans to serve as torturers in Algeria. The two main procedures were L’Avion (what I just described), and Fallakah, in which the subject is hung upside down from a pole and beaten across the ankles with a truck fan-belt wrapped around with copper wires (this is standard procedure for natives).
During the ten or fourteen days I spent in the gendarmerie, I underwent electric shock four times, and I lost the use of two toes when a pig climbed to the top of a desk and jumped on my bared foot. I was told that my son had died. I was taken into a clearing at night with a gun pointed at me and told to dig my grave. They kept on cursing at me in Hebrew hoping that I would respond and prove their thesis that all Jews are Israeli spies.
I could recount more of what I saw while in jail there (of course I confessed – everybody does). The Political whose eyeballs had turned backwards or the Political who went deaf. But I’ll stop here. I’m sorry to have shared my pain with you, but it’s about fuckin time.
Hedgehogs, humans and Jews – it’s all the same to them. In a culture where being right is the same as having the right, all who oppose them are meat.
From May, 2009
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.firstofthemonth.org/movabletype/mt-tb.cgi/11
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Flayed:
» flughafen hotel from flughafen hotel
[...] With the introduction of satin and antique flat versions, polyurethanes now offer do-it-yourselfers a full range of sheens. Also, certain polyurethane formulas now contain inhibitors to protect them from the sun's ultraviolet rays, for exterior u... [Read More]
Tracked on February 23, 2010 03:26 PM
» missouri dwi from missouri dwi
missouri dwi [Read More]
Tracked on March 22, 2011 01:13 PM
» taylor swift tickets from taylor swift tickets
taylor swift tickets [Read More]
Tracked on April 6, 2011 01:42 PM
» St. Louis Spa from St. Louis Spa
St. Louis Spa [Read More]
Tracked on April 7, 2011 09:55 AM
» Free Printable Coupons from Rewards Free Printable Coupons
Free grocery store coupons for local super markets. [Read More]
Tracked on April 20, 2011 04:08 AM
» Retaining Walls In St. Louis from Retaining Walls In St. Louis
Retaining Walls In St. Louis [Read More]
Tracked on April 20, 2011 08:30 PM
» Free Easy Credit Card Debt Relief from Free Credit Card Debt Relief
Free Easy Debt Relief provides professional Debt Settlement, Debt Management and Credit Counseling services designed to help you avoid bankruptcy while... [Read More]
Tracked on April 20, 2011 08:46 PM
» Solar Power San Diego from San Diego Solar Installation
San Diego's premier solar panel installation specialists. [Read More]
Tracked on April 22, 2011 02:59 AM
» Fast Debt Relief from Fast
Receive a free credit consultation and eliminate your credit card debt today. We specialize in credit repair, improving your credit rating and cleaning up [Read More]
Tracked on April 23, 2011 07:46 PM
» Debt Consolidation Alternative Solutions from Tips for Those with Too Much Credit Card Debt
Tips [Read More]
Tracked on April 24, 2011 03:20 PM
» Tee Times Discounts - Save 80% on Golf Tee Times from Tee Times Discounts
Save up to 80% or more on Golfing Tee Times. [Read More]
Tracked on April 29, 2011 07:01 AM
» Correction Vision LASIK from Correction Vision
Correction Vision - LASIK Eye evaluations and information. [Read More]
Tracked on April 30, 2011 03:05 AM
» Free Credit Score for Free from free credit score for free
Free Credit Score for Free [Read More]
Tracked on May 5, 2011 01:02 AM
» wwdc from wwdc
nikki reed nikki reed sean avery sean avery [Read More]
Tracked on June 6, 2011 08:20 AM
» biology from biology
technology technology wwdc wwdc [Read More]
Tracked on June 6, 2011 08:20 AM
» science from science
mila kunis mila kunis biology biology [Read More]
Tracked on June 6, 2011 08:21 AM
» Man what an interesting post. from IT Support St Louis
I saw this really intriguing post today and I wanted to link to it. [Read More]
Tracked on July 31, 2011 05:43 PM
» Easy Forex Trading from Easy Forex Trading
Easy Forex Trading [Read More]
Tracked on August 4, 2011 08:58 PM
» Zoloft Birth Defects from Zoloft Causes Birth Defects
Zoloft has been linked to birth defects. [Read More]
Tracked on August 7, 2011 06:50 AM
» easy anniversary gifts from easy anniversary gifts
easy anniversary gifts [Read More]
Tracked on August 9, 2011 08:45 PM
» Man what an interesting post. from Concrete Stain St Louis
I saw this really good post today and I wanted to link to it. [Read More]
Tracked on August 10, 2011 05:04 PM
» Man what an interesting post. from Mortgage St Louis
I saw this really good post today and I wanted to link to it. [Read More]
Tracked on September 1, 2011 04:29 PM
» Another Title from Home Remodeling St Louis
I saw this really good post today. [Read More]
Tracked on September 28, 2011 03:17 PM
» Title from Kitchen Remodel St Louis
This is my Excerpt [Read More]
Tracked on September 28, 2011 08:41 PM
» Excellent thread from Home Remodeling St Louis
I saw this really great thread today and I wanted to link to it. Thanks again for taking the time to post. [Read More]
Tracked on October 10, 2011 05:24 PM
» Custom Home Builders St. Louis from Kitchen Remodeling St Louis
Excellent thread, I saw this really good thread today and I wanted to link to it. Thanks again for taking the time to post. [Read More]
Tracked on December 10, 2011 07:08 PM
» madonna tickets from madonna tickets
madonna tickets [Read More]
Tracked on April 12, 2012 06:59 PM
» one direction new york from one direction new york
one direction new york [Read More]
Tracked on April 27, 2012 06:01 PM
» andrea bocelli tickets from andrea bocelli tickets
andrea bocelli tickets [Read More]
Tracked on May 7, 2012 09:00 PM
» andrea bocelli tickets from andrea bocelli tickets
andrea bocelli tickets [Read More]
Tracked on May 16, 2012 02:33 AM
» Carrie Underwood Tickets from Carrie Underwood Tickets
Carrie Underwood Tickets [Read More]
Tracked on May 18, 2012 05:30 PM
» carrie underwood tickets from carrie underwood tickets
carrie underwood tickets [Read More]
Tracked on May 19, 2012 02:32 PM
» Leonard Cohen Tickets from Leonard Cohen Tickets
Leonard Cohen Tickets [Read More]
Tracked on May 21, 2012 01:49 AM
» Porsche Owners from Porsche Owners
Porsche Owners [Read More]
Tracked on May 22, 2012 03:24 PM
» phoenix internet marketing from phoenix internet marketing
phoenix internet marketing [Read More]
Tracked on May 23, 2012 01:48 PM
» Phoenix Web Design from Phoenix Web Design
Phoenix Web Design [Read More]
Tracked on May 23, 2012 04:46 PM
» justin bieber tickets from justin bieber tickets
justin bieber tickets [Read More]
Tracked on May 24, 2012 02:28 PM
» justin bieber tickets from justin bieber tickets
justin bieber tickets [Read More]
Tracked on May 30, 2012 11:01 AM
» make money online from make money online
make money online [Read More]
Tracked on June 13, 2012 03:13 PM
» trackback poster from trackback poster
trackback poster [Read More]
Tracked on June 13, 2012 06:32 PM
» trimdownclub from trimdownclub
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on September 28, 2013 01:08 PM
» Canada Goose Jackets from Canada Goose Jackets
Hello to all, I am also truly keen of learning PHP programming, except I am new one, I every time used to read posts related to PHP programming. [Read More]
Tracked on January 2, 2014 06:40 PM
» ポーチ from ポーチ
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on January 10, 2014 04:37 AM
» ポーチ from ポーチ
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on January 10, 2014 04:40 AM
» One Piece Hentai from One Piece Hentai
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on January 14, 2014 10:04 PM
» pay day loans from pay day loans
Hi there to all, I am also genuinely keen of learning PHP programming, except I am new one, I every time used to examine articles or reviews related to PHP programming. [Read More]
Tracked on February 18, 2014 04:05 AM
» Nike Air Max 87 from Nike Air Max 87
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on April 22, 2014 06:06 AM
» Ropa Interior Calvin Klein Hombre from Ropa Interior Calvin Klein Hombre
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on April 29, 2014 12:19 PM
» discount michael kors from discount michael kors
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on May 6, 2014 05:35 AM
» Fat Burning Chef Review from Fat Burning Chef Review
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on July 24, 2014 04:11 PM
» Sleep Apnea from Sleep Apnea
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on November 5, 2014 07:26 PM
» christian louboutin from christian louboutin
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on December 8, 2014 06:38 AM
» christian louboutin from christian louboutin
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on December 8, 2014 06:40 AM
» coach factory from coach factory
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on December 15, 2014 05:05 PM
» christian louboutin outlet sale from christian louboutin outlet sale
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on January 9, 2015 05:21 PM
» Nike Air Jordan Mens Shoes from Nike Air Jordan Mens Shoes
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on January 14, 2015 06:25 AM
» Louboutin Costo from Louboutin Costo
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on January 26, 2015 12:42 PM
» Air Max Deumidificatore from Air Max Deumidificatore
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on February 8, 2015 10:31 AM
» David Christian Online from David Christian Online
First of the Month [Read More]
Tracked on February 10, 2015 08:38 AM