Last week, hundreds of volunteers who joined the flotilla mission to Gaza were detained by Israeli military forces, preventing them from delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine. Among those captured were Malaysian stars Ardell Aryana, Heliza Helmi, Zizi Kirana and Hazwani Helmi. Thankfully, many of the activists, including the 23 Malaysians, have been released and will be sent home.
However, reports have emerged that they were subjected to torture while in detention. Actor Nadzmi Adhwa, the husband of Adell Aryana, shared the latest update on his wife’s well-being and the injuries she sustained while in Israeli detention.
Nadzmi Adhwa took to Threads to inform fans that his wife, Ardell Aryana, along with other activists, had been released and would be returning to their respective countries. He also expressed his anger upon learning that his spouse was among those reportedly subjected to torture by Israeli forces due to her status as a public figure.
“My blood is boiling! How dare you punch my wife in the face! You even pulled her hijab! May Allah punish you for what you’ve done to her!” he wrote. Nadzmi revealed that the actress was specifically targeted as she had drawn significant attention to the mission through her social media posts and live streams, particularly on the night her ship was intercepted and everyone on board was detained against their will.
Not only was Ardell punched in the face, but her blood pressure is reportedly very low, possibly due to malnutrition, and her shoulder was also seriously injured. Thankfully, the star and the other activists received immediate medical treatment in Türkiye upon their arrival. “My wife asked me to have patience. Allahuakbar, she’s so strong, and she wants you guys to stay strong as well. Keep talking about Palestine,” said the actor.
According to Buletin TV3, other Malaysian public figures, including PU Rahmat and sisters Heliza and Hazwani Helmi, were also subjected to torture and humiliation while in Israeli detention. Swedish activist Greta was also targeted by Israeli forces due to her influence, with witnesses reporting that she was dragged by her hair, beaten, and forced to kiss the Israeli flag, reportedly as a warning to the other activists.
Watch Nadzmi Adhwa’s video on Era about what happened to Ardell:
Sources: Threads, Instagram, TheStar, AlJazeera, BuletinTV3
