VIDEO: 23 sleepless years of a Kurdish man

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A Kurdish man who suffred a head injury in 1993 has been unable to sleep for twenty-three years.

Salah Amin Mardan known as Mam Salah, Kurdish for Uncle Salah, is in his 60s. He is from the town of Taq Taq in Erbil Province. His only dream is to fall asleep once again after having suffered insomnia for over two decades.

“It was 1993. I was working as a construction worker,” Mam Salah told Kurdistan24. “I fell and the back of my head hit against something. I felt a strong pain.”

He said that since then, he has not slept. Mam Salah is awake during the day and long hours of night. “I can’t sleep, so I watch TV at nights until morning.”

Mam Salah noted that he almost always feels dizzy and is inattentive and forgetful. He is no longer capable of laughing either.

“I always feel bored and tired. But I love to walk,” he added.

According to Mam Salah, no doctor in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and Iran has been able to cure his insomnia.

He mentioned that doctors have told him that he can receive proper medical treatment in India, but a trip to India is beyond his means.

The sleepless man is famous in the town. Almost everyone knows that Mam Salah is the owner of the fabric shop that remains open when other shops close for afternoon naps.

Amina Hamid, Mam Salah’s wife, told Kurdistan24 that the family often stays awake during the night to keep him company.

“Last night, he attempted to commit suicide in the bathroom… It is very sad,” said Hamid.

Mam Salah mentioned that people might have different dreams in their life, but his dream is to be able to sleep once again, at least for few minutes.

“Lucky those who can sleep,” he concluded.

Editing by Ava Homa
(Goran Shakhawan conducted the interview)