Doc Jazz- A Palestinian surgeon with a passion for music

A Saudi friend of mine sent me a music clip by the Palestinian artist Doc Jazz. I honestly liked what I heard and was curious about the artist himself in terms of his life story. He has used music to convey his message about the the plight of his nation and through his music he has united thousands of people across the globe who share the same sentiments as him with regards to the Palestinian people. He has a Facebook following of almost 80 000 people and hence is an international icon. Music knows no boundaries. It transcends way beyond race, colour, creed, status or religion. Thanks to the internet and social media networking sites, I managed to get in touch with Doc Jazz and I am quite thankful not only for his prompt response to my messages but also for giving me the opportunity to interview him. Read on to find out more in his own words.

1. Firstly, thank you so much for taking time out to be interviewed by me on such short notice. How did the stage name of Doc Jazz come about?

It’s my pleasure, thank you for your interest in interviewing me. When I was a medical student, doing my internships, my colleagues nicknamed me ‘Doctor Jazz’ because I would bring my guitar along to our social gatherings and liven them up a little with some nice popular songs that everyone could sing along with. When I started releasing my own music on the internet a few years later, I needed a stage name, and remembered ‘Doctor Jazz’. I later shortened it to ‘Doc Jazz’, and I have kept it that way ever since. 

2. Tell me a little more about your family background and life from childhood until present? What was it like for you as a child growing up in Palestine?

I did n’t grow up in Palestine, but in the Netherlands. It was quite a challenge to defend my Palestinian identity and heritage in a country where people are so widely and deeply brainwashed into supporting Zionism. ‘Where are you from originally?’ was always one of the very first questions asked in any new encounter, and the answer “Palestine” was rarely ever received neutrally, and almost never positively. If anything, this preposterous and astonishingly widespread attitude served to increase my adherence to and interest in my Palestinian background. It has strengthened my spirit and my personality. Fortunately, I don’t live in the Netherlands anymore, but have moved to the United Arab Emirates six years ago, which has resulted in a significant improvement for me in terms of quality of life. 

As you probably know, the majority of Palestinians in the world are the descendants of those who were forced out of Palestine by the Zionist invaders. From an early age on in my life, we did visit Palestine very often though, as tourists in our own country, never allowed to settle in my grandfather’s house. Getting to visit our land became a bit easier when we acquired Dutch citizenship, but I am still not allowed by the occupier to have residency in Palestine. Nevertheless, my Palestinian identity has always been very dear to me and continues to play an essential role in my life. Palestine is home, and irreplaceable to me as such. It’s the only place in the world where I am not a ‘foreigner’. I am fluent in our Palestinian dialect, which is the language of my heart and soul, and despite having grown up in exile, I am deeply immersed in and familiar with all aspects of Palestinian culture. When I am in Palestine, people rarely identify me as one who grew up on foreign soil.

3. Do you belong to a musically inclined family?

Among my closest relatives, there are n’t so many who are very involved in music. My father is a retired university professor of social sciences, my mother is a medical doctor, as are many of my other relatives, so many that I would rather say I belong to a medically inclined family. However, my paternal grandmother, may God rest her soul, came from a very musical family from ‘Arrabeh, a village in the vicinity of Jenin. It could very well be that I picked up a few musical genes from that side. I learned a lot about Palestinian culture from my grandmother, who was delighted to see me picking up traditional Arabic instruments such as the shibbabeh (Palestinian flute), the Oud (Arabic lute) and the Middle Eastern handdrum, the darbuka. 

4. What has been your most memorable performance thus far?

My most memorable performance ever was when I performed in Palestine at Al Quds University in Abu Dis, Jerusalem, in 2009. I felt a really strong connection with the students, and the warmth with which they received me and my music is something I will never forget. It was a true homecoming. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a great feeling on stage at any other moment in my life. I don’t perform very often, so I sometimes wonder if this amazing experience will ever be matched.

5. If you could be granted one wish and have any skill or talent in the world, what would it be?

Interesting question, since I rarely think in such terms. If I feel like doing something and believe in it, I usually just go out there and do it. But, let me see. I guess perhaps I wish I had the skills of a movie director. I would produce a popular movie for the masses that would bring them really close to the Palestinian cause in an unorthodox and unusual way. It should be something that steps away from the usual formula of highlighting the tragedy purely through direct confrontation, not something aiming to appeal to those who are sensitive to 'disaster voyeurism', but with an entirely different angle, namely that of personal identification. I would like to enable the viewer to step into the skin of a Palestinian, both the one in exile and the one living in Palestine under oppression and persecution. I have some pretty well-developed ideas about this, but I don’t foresee that I will have the chance or opportunity to have it materialise anywhere in the near future. Anyway, I think there are some people in the field of film who are doing a fantastic and highly important job already, even though I still think my approach would be somewhat different. I’m not saying it would be better, just different, perhaps in the same way that my music is quite different from that of others who promote the Palestinian cause in their songs. 

6.What are your favourite websites? 

I have a special relationship with the Palestine Chronicle, the well-known news and analysis website that I have been contributing articles to since as early as 2002. I think the newer website Middle East Eye is also doing some very nice things. I also admire the work of those behind the Electronic Intifada. Besides this, I follow the English-language blogs of young Palestinians from Gaza, the West Bank and the diaspora, and I highly recommend that others around the world do so as well. I believe that their perspective is highly relevant, and that there are many talented writers and thinkers among them. I have a lot of confidence in the new generation of our people. I tried to express this in my song ‘Al Jeel Al Jadeed’ (’The New Generation’). I also want to emphasize that despite our situation of forced separation and exile, we are still one people, and we remain connected with one another, defying all the efforts of our enemy to create as many divisions as they can among us. I think these websites play an important role in maintaining this connection. This is also one of the reasons why I have a clear preference for Palestinian-led web projects and websites, although there are some good initiatives from non-Palestinians out there as well. 

7.Where do you see yourself  five years from now? What are your plans for the future?

I am a surgeon, and this is my true calling, so I expect and hope to still be doing that five years from now, and for many years after that. This is a profession that involves continuous evolution, growth and development, so my deepest wish is that as time goes by, I keep growing as a doctor and a surgeon. As for my other activities, I pray that I will still be able to continue doing them next to my full-time job. My current plan is to continue to further develop my musical skills, not with the political aim of their message, since I believe I’ve more or less said what I wanted to say in my huge number of songs on that topic, but for the enjoyment of musicianship itself. It does n’t matter so much to me how my new songs will be received. I will continue to express myself in other ways about our cause, through writing and through educating the masses on the many aspects of our struggle.

8.Define success. What does success mean to you?

I suppose my answer to this will be perceived as the typical answer of a Palestinian, but for me the only real success is the defeat of Zionism. Any other successes are just small steps towards that goal, and if they don’t contribute to it, I don’t consider them to be true successes. That said, I believe the success of any Palestinian who is true to his cause is a success for all Palestinians and for our cause. This idea does not stem from some impoverished ideology of nationalism, but from the simple and realistic notion that Zionists clearly are aiming to destroy our people on all possible levels, from our national identity, to our cultural heritage, to our personal lives. Every success booked by a Palestinian, regardless of whether this is in their professions, or in their arts, or in science or business, is a slap in their faces and a defeat for Zionism. Keep moving forward, my Palestinian brothers and sisters, and keep aiming for the highest level of achievements in all fields, whilst never forgetting your roots and your rights.

9. As a Palestinian, what is your opinion about the illegal invasion of Palestinian land by Zionist Jews. In your opinion how can the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians be resolved? 

The illegal invasion of Palestine, and the massive ethnic cleansing and appropriation of land by the Zionists, known as the Nakba, is one of the 20th century’s most significant and most severe crimes against humanity. What turns it into one of the worst among them, is that the ruling powers have been protecting and nurturing this brutal invading power in almost every thinkable way, in total defiance of international law and global conventions. This has turned this issue into the massive crime that everyone knows about, but nobody wants to solve. The excuses that people - mostly in the Western World - make up for themselves that keep them from forcing ‘Israel’ to comply with international law, are as morally corrupt as their hypocritical eagerness to please Zionist lobbyists in politics and media. While everyone is well aware that these attitudes are purely given in by opportunism, there seems to be a common consensus among many in the West that these immoral attitudes are best maintained, despite the fact that people are no longer oblivious to the fact that the Palestinian people are paying a heavy price for these inhumane policies. 

Fortunately, on the level of ordinary citizens, things are changing significantly, and people are starting to realize that the unholy alliance with Zionism of their governments is not to their own benefit, but only profitable for the ruling elites in their countries. The heinous atrocities committed by Israeli forces upon the Palestinians of Gaza in the summer of 2014 have done their share of waking up large numbers of people who were in a deep slumber on the issue.

The resolution of the issue can only come from significant numbers of people deciding to redeem their own moral integrity, and starting to pressure the Zionist state by calling upon their governments to cut off arms supplies, eliminating trade agreements, boycotting Israeli products, and implementing an academic and cultural boycott as well. Without the existing economical lifelines, the Zionist entity will be forced upon its knees, since it cannot survive without them. The euphemism, "a conflict between ‘Israelis' and Palestinians” is outdated and misleading: in truth, this is a matter of violent invading hordes oppressing, persecuting, robbing, expelling and destroying the indigenous people of a country, for all to see. It is a harsh reality that is inevitably becoming more and more visible to a growing number of people, despite decades of cover-up, brainwash and propaganda. The fake dream induced by the treacherous Oslo-agreements of the 90’s has run its course. It’s high time to wake up from this deceitful hoax, and people are doing that. They just need to hurry up more doing it. Facts on the ground are changing on a daily basis, to the advantage of the Zionists. The situation grows more urgent every day.

10.Do you teach music? Would you consider teaching music in the future?

I don’t consider myself to be in any position to teach music. Despite the many instruments I play on in my recordings, I am entirely self-taught, and I don’t even know how to read musical notes. I don’t think I would even know how to teach other people to make music. I have of course, over the years, developed my own set of skills and knowledge, but I wouldn’t dare compare that to the background that people who have had a true musical education possess. I think teaching music should be left up to those professionals.

11.What advice would you give to young aspiring musicians out there?

I would rather give an advice to young people out there including not only those who aspire to make music, but those who have any other skills and dreams as well. Achievement is always the result of dedication and perseverance. It does n’t usually come presented to you on a silver platter, so don’t count on that to happen. Work hard on what you wish to accomplish, and don’t waste your energy on whining over failures on your way there. All these failures contain lessons that actually help you grow and advance, if you only open your eyes wide enough to see what those lessons are. Don’t give up on what you wish to achieve, and just hang in there long enough until you start seeing things happening, and if you are stubborn enough about it, you will. It’s like the slogan in my song ‘Intifada’: never give up!

 Once again, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed by me . Desert Moon wishes you all the best in your future endeavours!!! This is definitely one of the most inspiring interviews that I have ever done. I am so honoured and proud to have interviewed a man who has made a positive impact globally through his music whilst the world is engulfed in political turmoil and war. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and hope to see you soon in South Africa!!
       

        To listen to the artists music, simply click on the link below

        https://www.facebook.com/docjazz/app_184781670305?ref=page_internal

Sometimes there is more to than meets the eye

                                                            www.fathermag.com

Over the last few weeks I have posted articles about kids abusing parents and dumping them in the old age home. However, a friend of mine made me see the other side of the story and his story really broke my heart. A few days ago whilst chatting to me he informed me that he never really had a good childhood and the only memories of his childhood is one of abuse.His mom and his siblings lived in fear of his dad. His dad would hit his mom black and blue in addition to cursing his kids. He was never there to encourage them at school. He would abuse them verbally.The only thing he did was lower their self esteem and made them feel inferior to other kids.. Very often his mom would be walking on the street with a broken nose. The biggest happiness he ever got was the day his mom decided to divorce his dad and walk away. Unfortunately years later his mom got ill and passed away. His dad is still alive and whilst I advised him to make peace he simply replied that he has tried on two occasions to set the relationship straight but the damage has already been done from his childhood days. In his eyes his dad is dead even though he is still alive.

The cycle of abuse continued when he got married believe it or not. His marriage was arranged by a religious scholar who knew the psychological history of the woman that he suggested he marries. In typical Indian fashion, this religious scholar pushed him to marry this woman in the hope that she will get better psychologically. However, due to her illness she was literally abusing him physically to the point where he landed up with internal bleeding. He remained in this relationship for four years until he decided that enough was enough. He divorced her and moved on. We always talk about women and the elderly being victims of abuse but his story really made me see things from a different perspective. Kids can grow up to hate their parents simply due to the abuse they have endured in their childhood years at the hands of their parents who should have been there as their guide and mentor in life and hence may be these same kids have no time for their parents in their old age and secondly men can also be victims of abuse not only women. I am proud of my friend though for rising above all the pain he faced during his childhood years. Today he is a successful businessman with an amazingly bright and bubbly personality. He has an aura of positivity and I applaud him for sharing his story with me.

Turkey 2014 - Day 6

Waking up to a bright, sunny morning we made our way to the main restaurant for breakfast where we were surprised to see many soldiers in uniform from many countries across the globe. Having an opportunity to speak to some of them who were actually very friendly, I was told that they were in Izmir on a mission which is of course confidential. They were all to gather at the Nato base located on the outskirts of Izmir approximately a twenty minute drive.  After breakfast we loaded all our belongings and headed for Kusadasi. Along the way we visited a few historical sites. Driving towards Selcuk, the first site we visited was the house of the virgin Mary. She resided in this house towards the end of her life.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside the home out of respect but what I did notice was a separate room where both nuns and Muslim women prayed side by side. Mary or Mariam has an important significance in both the Christian as well as the Islamic faith. Whilst observing my surroundings I was fascinated with the rock wall that had thousands of wishes stuck to it. The wishes were written on white Kleenex or on white paper. According to locals, you should write your wish on a piece of paper and tie it on the wall. If the wish comes through you need to return and remove the paper. Nearby the wall there is a spring of flowing water emanating from the rocks. Whilst we were told not to drink the water for health safety reasons many of the tourists deemed this water as holy water and drank it in abundance.

After paying our respects at the home of Mother Mary we then moved on to the ancient city of Ephesus, the largest Roman ruin in the world and one of the world’s finest archaeological sites. We explored with great fascination the Odeon, Curetes street, Trajan fountain, the splendid facade of the library of celcius and the amphitheatre which is still being used for concerts. After exploring the site for a good couple of hours in the scorching sun, we enjoyed a delicious home cooked Turkish meal prepared especially for us by a local family. Turkish people love freshly cooked organic food. Turkish women are extremely hardworking overseeing all the home chores whilst the lazy men enjoy a game of Backgammon with a delicious cup of Turkish tea.  I was quite amazed at the fact that many of the shop owners were women and women also took care of the fields and gardens operating lawnmowers and tractors with much ease. After lunch we visited the Basilica of St. John. We were quite surprised to see a bride and groom at the historical site taking out wedding pictures on a week day. After exploring the site under really hot conditions it was quite refreshing to arrive at the Sea Light resort in Kusadasi , just in time for a quick afternoon swim just before sunset. Dinner at the hotel was absolutely delicious. The baked salmon with mash potatoes coupled with an assortment of freshly baked breads made us all indulge in a second helping. After dinner, we took a walk around the resort and discovered a live show for all the guests at the hotel. The show was hilarious where guests were randomly selected to sing or dance or do something funny.  It was loads of fun. We had the opportunity of interacting with people from Russia and Germany who were also on tour. After enjoying a night with lots of laughter, we retired to bed in the early hours of the morning.

Allahu Yarhamuhu Ya Abu Meteb

With the news of King Abdulla's demise, there has been many negative comments coming through about him being a bad person supporting a Zionist movement etc. Whilst Muslims from other parts of the world may say good riddance, he was undoubtedly a peoples king. The Saudi people loved their King especially the women. During his reign he did a lot for women's rights and female education in the Kingdom. He was in support of women driving in the Kingdom considering that his own daughters knew how to drive. He wanted to bring about more reform but there is a fine line between liberalism and a culture of tribal rule. My fondest memories of him was watching him being wheeled into the hospital when he got ill a few years ago. I will never forget that night. My colleague and good friend was the night manager on duty. He got a call from the Royal clinic stating that the King is on his way to the hospital. My colleague rushed down to the pharmacy basement asking me to assist him with looking for the Kings bed which was stashed away in a store room. We searched for the bed from one store room to the other eventually finding it just in time for the Kings arrival. When he arrived at the hospital, he greeted the staff with a smile on his face. He was a grandfatherly figure to everyone around him. The Saudi staff waited in line to greet him. Whilst his face never really gave away his age, he was old and I am sure that he would have loved to do more for his people but age was of course against him. To the Saudi people he was regarded as their father. He was given that respect and status by his people and whilst he may have made bad decisions with regards to supporting a zionist regime at the end of it all we are no one to judge him as a person. I recall a story that a colleague of mine related to me. He told me that many years ago the King had a maid from Eritrea and her duty was only to make him a morning cup of tea. She worked at the palace for many years until one day she informed King Abdulla that she needed to leave as her mom was very ill and required medical attention. He gave her two bags of money. When she stepped out of the palace the guards on duty were under the impression that she had stolen the money. After liaising with the King she was allowed to leave. In Eritrea, the maid put her mom in a private medical facility and also managed to buy out a small hotel whereby she could earn a decent living and provide for her family.
I got a call in the early hours of this morning from his nephew who told me that there is sadness within the Kingdom. He stated that whilst some people out there may have been unhappy with his uncles views concerning foreign policies , his uncle passed away on a Friday as a Muslim. May Allah grant him the highest stages of Jannah.

I find it shocking that there are Muslims out there who are posting ridiculous comments on other forums with regards to Abu Meteb's death,
" He does not deserve to get a Friday."
" He does not deserve to be buried in Mecca..Astaghfirullah."
" How come he got a Friday for his wrongdoings."

How can we judge another human being. He might have been a bad person to the world but in Allah's eyes he may have been a good human being. I can not handle the shallow way of thinking of some of our narrow minded South African Muslims. We enjoy division rather than unity. We enjoy judging others yet we fail to ponder over our own wrongdoings. As a Muslim and a fellow human being, I say Allahu yar7amuhu Abu Meteb... May Allah grant you the highest stages of jannah and sabr jameel to your family.......

Turkey 2014- Day 5

After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the Kolin hotel, we checked out and made our way to a few historical sites enroute to Izmir. Our first stop was Homer’s Troy where we seen the ruins of nine cities built on top of each other and an enormous reconstruction of the famous wooden horse. It was an incredible site to see as the history I learnt at school finally came to light. For those of you who are not familiar with the tale of the Trojan Horse, “it is a story from the Trojan War about the subterfuge that the Greeks used to enter the city of Troy and win the war. In the canonical version, after a fruitless 10-year siege, the Greeks constructed a huge wooden horse, and hid a select force of men inside. The Greeks pretended to sail away, and the Trojans pulled the horse into their city as a victory trophy. That night the Greek force crept out of the horse and opened the gates for the rest of the Greek army, which had sailed back under cover of night. The Greeks entered and destroyed the city of Troy, decisively ending the war. The main ancient source for the story is the Aeneid of Virgil, a Latin epic poem from the time of Augustus. The event is referred to in Homer's Odyssey. In the Greek tradition, the horse is called the "Wooden Horse". “

After marvelling at the huge reconstructed wooden horse, we headed for Pergamon. Enroute we enjoyed a light lunch at one of the quaint road side restaurants.  At Pergamon we observed the charming view of the acropolis of ancient Pergamon way up on a mountain top. We visited the Asclepion and the ancient centre of healing said to be the world’s first hospital. I was quite fascinated to hear that in ancient times all patients with mental illnesses were placed in the basement for treatment.  “Founded by a man named Archias, the Asclepion of Pergamon became famous under Galen (131-210 AD), a local physician who pursued his medical studies in Greece and Alexandria (Egypt) before settling as doctor to Pergamon's gladiators.

From the parking lot and entrance (TL15), where there are shops and snack-and-drink stands, we walked along a monumental marble street bordered by columns. This was once an active market street, with shops lining both sides of the street. The acropolis of Pergamum is clearly visible on its hilltop to the east.

Coming into the main precinct of the Asclepion, we noticed the large marble column fragment bearing the Asclepion's symbol: two snakes facing each other across a wheel. As snakes shed their skins are "reborn," so patients at the Asclepion were to shed their illnesses and regain health.

We first noticed the large theater of the Asclepion, in front of which are several stone-framed sacred pools, filled with water (and frogs) in spring, though perhaps dry in summer and autumn.”

After touring the site for over an hour in the blistering heat we made our way to Izmir. We checked into the opulent Hilton Izmir Hotel in the middle of town a few streets away from the beach. After enjoying a really sumptuous meal we took a walk on the beach front. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly taking a ride back to the hotel in a horse and cart.

For more pictures, simply click on this link: 

https://www.facebook.com/sumayya.mehtar/media_set?set=a.10153510394752782.1073741872.739292781&type=3

Beware of the Muslim swingers club in your area

                                                      Picture: www.inyourpocket.com

A few days ago there was an article published with regards to the swingers club in Lenasia. On another facebook page people were arguing that the write up just can not be true.Well folks it is true. I heard the story from the horses mouth. The house where these illicit activities are occurring is located in extension 5.. rainbow valley. Apparently it is an area in Lenasia where rich Indian families reside. The club comprises of rich Muslim,Hindu and Tamil businessmen.The lady who related her ordeal to the newspaper divorced her husband within a week after he took her to the club and expected her to engage in sexual activities with his friend. She had no idea that her husband belonged to the club. He informed her that he was invited at a friends house for dinner. Arriving at the home, she noticed many of the women dressed erotically. Her husband dropped his car keys in a bowl which she found odd. After indulging in some finger foods, she noticed some of the couples dancing. She also noticed a man picking up their car keys from a bowl. Her husband then instructed her to go upstairs with the gentleman who also happened to be a close friend of his. She was totally confused and asked her husband why should she go upstairs with the man. Her husband then revealed the truth to her that he is a part of the swingers club and he wants her to participate as well to improve their sex life. Naturally she was shocked. She slapped him, took the car keys and drove off to her mothers home.  The lady has been married to her husband for almost 20 years. They have grown up married kids..There is apparently a Muslim swingers club in Houghton, Laudium and Sandton as well.Shocking is n't it...Some of these men who belong to swingers clubs feel that it is better to engage in these type of sexual activities with their wives instead of marrying other women or having affairs. There is also a group of Muslim businessmen who frequent elite escort agencies in Sandton. These businessmen believe that they are unable to marry other women, as their wives will not accept the presence of a second or third wife. Many of these businessmen fear divorce as their wives are fifty percent share holders in the business and hence if their infidelity is caught they will pay a heavy price. Many of these businessmen believe that their wives are old and can not satisfy them sexually any more and hence have opted to frequent elite escort agencies in Sandton where their activities and identities are kept totally secret.

Yesterday afternoon the police informed us that there is a Muslim owned home in Fietas that has become a brothel.Drugs and alcohol is sold at this house. Young Indian, white, coloured and Malay girls are recruited to satisfy customers needs. Muslim businessmen, Imaams and moulanas frequent this house for sexual gratification. Many of these young women are on drugs so they have sex with different men in exchange for drugs and alcohol. I felt so embarrassed when the policeman said that most of the drug busts in this country involve rich Muslim businessmen.These same men walk with their heads high, showing off about their properties,cars and houses yet it is all earned in a haraam way. In their quest to achieve name and fame they have destroyed the lives of innocent young men and women.Well all i can say is that these people can show off about their materialistic possessions in this world but when they go six feet deep they will have to answer to their Creator....

When I posted this info on facebook last night, it seems to have received lots of interest with many people messaging me wanting to know where are the houses located etc etc. I will not divulge any more information. The issue I have though is that the Ulema in our community know that this is happening so why are they not addressing this issue in a Juma khutbah. Every week they talk about the same old crap but fail to address pertinent issues within our community. With regards to the home in Fietas, I hope that the police arrest members of this family soon and take legal action against them. People like that need to rot in jail with the keys thrown away.......