# Arafat's mysterious illness

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-mysterious-illness/273971>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 10, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-mysterious-illness/273971 "2004-11-10T03:46:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![OliverTwistofLime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b487fb/32.png) [@OliverTwistofLime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OliverTwistofLime)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-mysterious-illness/273971/1 "2004-11-10T03:46:54Z")

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Could Arafat’s illness be a result of Aids? This rumor has been circulating around certain circles. Does anyone have any information as to his _siddem illness_ leading shortly to death?

If his disease is secondary to a CVA (cerebral vascular accident) or other related illness, why would the etiology be kept so secretive?

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**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-mysterious-illness/273971/2 "2004-11-10T04:12:23Z")

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> [@MadSam](#):
>
> If his disease is secondary to a CVA (cerebral vascular accident) or other related illness, why would the etiology be kept so secretive?

My guess is the secrecy is so as to not let on just how bad he is and foment something like a civil war among those who would seek to replace the power vacuum he’ll leave behind. So, they keep his real condition a secret so that might imply he could be back leaving those who would supplant him to tread more lightly.

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**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-mysterious-illness/273971/3 "2004-11-10T04:19:41Z")

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There’s an earlier thread: [Does Arafat have AIDS?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=285485&highlight=aids). Haven’t read it so I can’t comment.

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**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-mysterious-illness/273971/4 "2004-11-10T04:24:12Z")

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It would seem to me that the medical team is hiding their diagnosis. I would further presume they must have a reason for doing this. After that we get into speculation.

It could be they do not know what the heck is killing the guy.

It could be he has some sort of ‘embarrassing’ disease. While this might certainly be AIDS, it could also be some other sexually-transmitted condition.

The family simply does not want to tell anyone and the doctors are honoring their request. This is not the usual behavior I expect from Arabs, but I am not really an expert.

Still, nobody can keep a secret forever. Forever is a very long time. We will find out someday.

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**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arafats-mysterious-illness/273971/5 "2004-11-10T05:17:28Z")

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I think it’s karma.