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Christian lied about faith to survive Saudi siege
Reuters ^ | 31 May 2004 14:43:21 GMT | Samia Nakhoul

Posted on 05/31/2004 9:00:49 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, May 31 (Reuters) - A Christian Arab who was held captive by al Qaeda militants in Saudi Arabia said on Monday he lied to them about his faith and praised their battle against the West, to save his life.

Nizar Hajazeen, a Jordanian software businessmen who was at the Tower hotel in the Oasis compound during the 25-hour drama in Khobar, said the militants lectured him about Islam and their aim to liberate Saudi Arabia from "infidels and crusaders".

The complex where the militants held about 50 foreigners -- including some Westerners -- was their last target in the violence in the eastern Saudi oil city in which they killed at least 22 people.

Hajazeen, 32, had tried to call a cab to go to work on Saturday but the phone lines were jumbled.

"I went down and the Filipino receptionist told me there were terrorists in the compound and gunshots were heard," he told Reuters.

He tried to help security guards close the hotel entrance gate but the lock did not work and a manager recommended he hide, Hajazeen said.

"I went to the room of a Jordanian colleague. Someone banged violently on the door. We opened and there were two men, one with a machinegun, another with a revolver. They were wearing black track suits," he said, adding that one had a wounded arm.

Both were in their twenties.

"They asked us if we were Arab or Westerners. We told them: 'We're Arab'.

"One then asked if I was a Christian or a Muslim. I told him we were Muslims and showed him my colleague's Koran as proof. I told him we supported them and that we were against America and Europe. I had to say that."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

Residents of the compound said the attackers asked everyone they encountered if they were Muslim or Christian, before taking them hostage or killing them.

An Oasis manager said the gunmen shot and killed several Westerners as soon as they entered the complex.

The gunmen made two Indian hotel staff with master keys show them where the Westerners were, Hajazeen said.

His brother called him on his mobile phone to wish him a happy birthday -- a day late -- just as the militants were saying their motive was to drive Americans and Christians from their country.

"They asked me to turn off my mobile but did not take it away as they did with others," Hajazeen said, adding that they told him and his colleague to stay in the room and left.

"We stayed locked in our room. One of us was hiding in the shower, another one was hiding in the bathtub," Hajazeen said, adding that from time to time they sneaked back into the bedroom to watch the news on television.

He said that before commandos freed them on Sunday, compound security guards called his mobile to ask him to check if the militants had rigged his floor with explosives. He found nothing.

"Before the commandos came, there was heavy gunfire and one explosion shook the hotel. We could hear glass being smashed, screams... It sounded like someone was giving out orders."

Saudi security forces later called them out, saying: "Do not be scared."

Making his way to freedom he saw the bodies of four Indians and an Italian cook.

"They had been shot dead. Some were on the staircases."


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; christianarabs; coward; hostages; khobar; radicalmuslims; saudiarabia
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To: sinkspur

Not sure I would feel comfortable telling another person to lie. there has to be another way to confuse the terrorists into believing something else..


541 posted on 05/31/2004 6:18:04 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: Geist Krieger
""But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." Mark 13:11 You see, God will provide the Word, there is no mention of "lying your way out of the prediciment" to save you skin."

Like I said, this isn't some council and it's not an arrest, it's a band of satan's vicious clowns. God did provide the word and the man spoke it. I told you God was happy this man is alive. God is know looking to see who is there to join him after this man lived to tell the story of what went down. See, just as he gave the blind man, who was w/o sin, he gave this man, who did not sin.

542 posted on 05/31/2004 6:19:14 PM PDT by spunkets
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To: sinkspur
Jesus also said that the fearful would not enter into heaven. He categorized the fearful right along with the liars and whoremongers and liars.

Revelation 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

543 posted on 05/31/2004 6:20:03 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~

No, usually the undeducated are the one's taking the passages as literal not the other way around.


544 posted on 05/31/2004 6:20:46 PM PDT by inspector
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~

See #543


545 posted on 05/31/2004 6:21:01 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: inspector

I'd rather say that the reader needs to understand the context..that has to come first.


546 posted on 05/31/2004 6:22:01 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: sinkspur

Well who ARE we to share the gospel with if not these folks?


547 posted on 05/31/2004 6:23:47 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
Not sure I would feel comfortable telling another person to lie. there has to be another way to confuse the terrorists into believing something else..

Terrorists who threaten lives have no right to the truth.

You are under an obligation to tell the truth to people who deserve the truth.

Let me ask you this: If you knew that a friend of yours was cheating on her husband, and one of your close friends asked you if she was, do you feel you have a Biblical obligation to tell her the truth?

548 posted on 05/31/2004 6:24:32 PM PDT by sinkspur (Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
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To: PleaseNoMore
Was that not after the tribulation? Rev Chapter 21
4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
549 posted on 05/31/2004 6:25:59 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: PleaseNoMore
Jesus also said that the fearful would not enter into heaven. He categorized the fearful right along with the liars and whoremongers and liars.

When did Jesus say these words? You are putting words into His mouth.

550 posted on 05/31/2004 6:26:46 PM PDT by sinkspur (Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
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To: sinkspur
If you knew that a friend of yours was cheating on her husband, and one of your close friends asked you if she was, do you feel you have a Biblical obligation to tell her the truth?

If the close friend was the husband, yes. If not, no because that would be gossip.

551 posted on 05/31/2004 6:26:51 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: sinkspur

It is in Revelation. Chapter 21 verse 8. These are Christ's words.


552 posted on 05/31/2004 6:27:40 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
"there has to be another way to confuse the terrorists into believing something else.

They were in a desert hotel. He could have stomped his feet on the rug and kicked up a clould of dust in their face and turned into the incredible hulk while they were distracted.

...just kidding.

553 posted on 05/31/2004 6:27:52 PM PDT by spunkets
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
An Oasis manager said the gunmen shot and killed several Westerners as soon as they entered the complex.

Too bad Michael Moore wasn't there.

554 posted on 05/31/2004 6:29:28 PM PDT by dougherty (I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangel)
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To: sinkspur
I've been told that we don't have to tell everything we know...so I think there are ways around it. I don't believe there is a biblical obligation to tell. HOWEVER, the bible also has rules about adultery. I believe I would or could be a sinner/accomplice by not telling. It would not be right to "help the adulterer"..

But, yes, I would tell, even if it meant losing the relationship.
555 posted on 05/31/2004 6:29:33 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~

I agree with that as well.


556 posted on 05/31/2004 6:30:52 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~

It doesn't seem that Jesus would have felt the need to say it at all if it only applied to the times when Christianity is easy. The only reason Christianity has been easy at times is because of the people who were willing to die for their faith. And because the patriotic early Americans were willing to die for our religious freedom.


557 posted on 05/31/2004 6:31:21 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: PleaseNoMore
You are under no obligation to tell a husband that his wife is cheating on him, either.

What you call "gossip," others would call "the truth" and would call you a liar for not sharing "the truth" with anybody who asked.

558 posted on 05/31/2004 6:31:24 PM PDT by sinkspur (Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
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To: spunkets

LOL Or stuck an alka-selzter in his mouth and started foaming!


559 posted on 05/31/2004 6:31:41 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: sauropod
This guy has just lost his eternal life. He'd better enjoy this one.

What a load of crap. Who put you in charge anyway? Speak for yourself, not God.

560 posted on 05/31/2004 6:32:00 PM PDT by dougherty (I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. - Michelangel)
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