'Don't feel sorry if I die defending the country'

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Dont feel sorry if I die defending the country
UAE martyr Abdullah Omar Mubarak Salem Al Jabiri, RAK, and daughter Supplied photo

Martyr had said he'd return victorious or be martyred

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Published: Wed 11 Nov 2015, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Thu 26 Nov 2015, 1:35 PM

"Victory or martyrdom" - this was the message posted by Emirati martyr Abdullah Omar Mubarak Salem Al Jabiri on his social media accounts shortly before he died in Yemen. For 31-year-old Al Jabiri, martyrdom was an honour and he reiterated this to his mother in his will, saying, "Don't feel sorry if I die defending the nation."
Al Jabiri, who hailed from Al Maamura area in Ras Al Khaimah, was martyred in Yemen on September 4.
His mother said: "I am not only accepting my fate, but feel proud of my son who was martyred while defending righteousness and justice."
The mother said her son had requested her to look after his daughters shortly before he died. "Though his children lost their father, they have father figures in thousands of others - the Rulers and people of the UAE."
Abdullah Somar, the martyr's brother-in-law, said the family is proud of his sacrifice.
Al Jabiri was a decent and religious man, said Somar. "He was known for his kindness, compassion and cooperation with relatives, friends, neighbours, and whoever was in need of help."
The martyr got married when he was very young and has four daughters. His wife is pregnant with their fifth child.
Mohammed Al Jabiri, the martyr's nephew, said: "Our hearts are broken, our eyes are full of tears, but we surrender to the will of Almighty Allah to whom we belong, and to whom we will return."
Jaafar Omar, Al Jabiri's brother, said serving the UAE was always the martyr's dream. "He joined the UAE Armed Forces 17 years back."
He set an "exceptional example in sacrifice and commitment", he added. "He was part of the country's troops in Bahrain, Afghanistan and finally Yemen, where he was martyred, and that is an honour to us all."
Saleh Omar, the martyr's brother, said he requested his family to take care of his daughters and raise them to be loyal citizens. "I had told him he would return home safe and victorious. Instead, he came back as a martyr.
"I am ready to go to Yemen and be part of the operation there to defend righteousness, justice and legitimacy."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com


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