A letter from Carla Bruni-Sarkozy to Rafah's husband, Prof Abdullah Faisal

I was alerted to this letter from Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (published last night, 2 Oct) by my colleague Victoria Woollard in Paris. I have run it through the Google translation softwar and tried to iron out the oddities - it is not 100% accurate, but I think it has the spirit at least of the message, which can be consulted in French by clicking here. JL An article in Al Arabiya (in English) reports the letter, click here.

Dear Dr. ABDALLAH,

I learned that your wife, Dr. Rafah NACHED, disappeared on the night of Sept. 10, and you were five days without knowing what had happened to her. It is not difficult to imagine the anguish you and your family lived through during these moments.

Since then, you have been warned that she was arrested by military security services, and had been imprisoned. You have the right to make two visits to see her of a half-hour per week. The last time you saw that she was too exhausted to stand the time of the visit. She suffers from heart problems, and those who know her are worried about her health.

I am appalled by what is happening. I saw that Rafah NACHED has many friends in Paris, where she trained as a psychoanalyst. It seems inconceivable that a clinician who is dedicated to treatment and study, is a threat to public order and security of the state.

Rafah NACHED, a free and accomplished woman, whose fame is international, whose life and honor the work of Syria, Syrian and Arab women and all women, knows today a kind of injustice. Therefore I hope that those who can go to her aid will do so without waiting any longer.

Dear Doctor Addallah, since the arrest of Rafah NACHED, your granddaughter has been born. Without doubt you will tell your wife. But in her cell where she is imprisoned, she is not alone. Thousands of friends, known and unknown, think about her every day around the world, and will not cease to act so that very soon she will be free again, and will be able to embrace the small Indya.

With all my admiration for the courage of Rafah and yours, I send you to both my feelings of solidarity and deep sympathy.

Carla BRUNI-SARKOZY