HEBRON, Palestine
In 2016, a Palestinian couple had to abandon their marriage plans, as Israeli security played spoilsport by arresting the groom, Ahmed Azzam.
When he was released recently, after spending six years in prison, the bride Bayan received him wearing a ring of roses. Both of them are now preparing to tie the nuptial knot in the middle of August.
Six years ago, just before the day, they had chosen to marry Israeli security agencies came and arrested Azzam for participating in the activities of Hamas in the occupied West Bank. After facing intense interrogation for over 45 days at Ashkelon Interrogation Center, he was moved to jail.
"At the time of his arrest he had told me he eagers to see me wearing a natural rose circlet when he will get out of jail," said Bayan.
She kept her word and was present at the check post awaiting him wearing the ring of roses to express her love and longing.
Both had a warm and passionate encounter as Azzam walked to freedom.
She is now trying her best to save these roses from withering by sprinkling water on them every day to keep them as a memento for her reunion with her fiance after six years of parting.
Bayan said that when Azzam was arrested, she got a call from a private number.
He had been allowed to talk to family members, on the last day in the interrogation center, before he was shifted to prison.
“When I listened to his voice, I told him that all of us support him, praying for his freedom, and I will wait for him whatever the sentence will be,” Bayan recalled.
Israeli security officers who were listening to the conversation scoffed at Bayan’s promise of waiting for him.
Proving Israeli officer wrong
An officer even offered to bet Azzam that she will not wait for him and he will be in prison for a longer sentence. But the officer proved wrong.
On the day of his release, Bayan waited for him near Meitar military checkpoint, far south of the west bank for several hours wearing the garland of roses, along with his other family members.
During those waiting hours, she was working on her phone, preparing the reception ceremony, ordering pastry, and informing friends and family friends, who were waiting at the Azzam’s family home in the village of Yasof, near Nablus.
A year after Azzam’s arrest, the Israeli army also stormed Bayan’s house at Al-Ezarieh, a town near East Jerusalem, and arrested her. She spent 40 months in the prison.
When both were inside the prison, Azzam tried many times to meet Bayan. But Israeli courts turned down the request citing security reasons.
“Azzam swore to security personnel that if they sentenced me to life imprisonment, he will wait for me for his lifetime," she recalled.
Surprise through radio
She was also accused of participating in the pro-Hamas activities in the occupied West Bank.
He remained in touch with her through advocates remembering her on birthdays and other special days.
On her last birthday, Azzam sent her a poem he wrote in his jail to the radio station that Bayan used to hook on.
She recalls listening to the radio program when the broadcaster said there is a surprise from the inmate Ahmed Azzam detailed in Al-Damon prison for his fiance Bayan Frouan.
Over the past year when it became clear that Azzam will be released, Bayan took it upon herself to complete preparations for the wedding, preparing the details of the house and everything they needed in their new life.
