Cairo: The King's Jungle
49
gathered. It was decided that my fate should be sealed in the
Karakol Abdin Kism—the Abdin District Police Station.
Flanked by the two policemen, and followed by a crowd
yelling "Yahoodi"—Jew—we walked on. Once I turned
around, and beating my breast like an outraged patriot, I
shouted: "I am an American!"
"Then you are worse than a Jew!" someone yelled in perfect
English.
Those in front rushed up, tried to jab me with their sticks,
and threatened me with their whips. Most Egyptians apparently carried one or the other, handy for warding off flies,
urchins, or would-be thugs. Had not the police flailed back
savagely, I might easily have been mauled. A few months later
an American, Stephen A. Haas of Philadelphia, sight-seeing
with his wife and an Arab guide, was fatally beaten while
police looked the other way.2
Once inside Abdin Station, an arsenal bristling with police,
each of my two captors grabbed one of my arms and vigorously
pushed me into a dark room. Dozens of rifles were leaning
against its walls. On a shelf above were several dozen black
shields—obviously used by the police when they charged rioting mobs. In one corner were piled handcuffs and loaded bamboo poles; in another, three-foot-long wooden clubs, apparently companion pieces to the shields. I was unceremoniously
shoved before Sergeant Abdel Fattah of the Criminal Investigation Department.
"Your passport," he said as soon as I entered.
2
On July 17, 1948, Haas was attacked by a mob near the Citadel.
Stabbed and left dying on the street, he was finally picked up and taken to a
police station. There he died in the presence of his wife, who had to stand
by helplessly as her husband bled on the floor where he had been flung by
the police. Nor could she seek help from the United States consul or from
doctors, according to newspaper reports.
Our charge d'affaires vigorously protested against "the unwillingness of
certain Egyptian police to intervene promptly and effectively, and of their
totally unwarranted and inexplicable efforts to prevent Mrs. Haas from communicating immediately with the American Embassy." Later three Egyptians
were arrested. Eventually they were released and nothing further happened.