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."
Just deny they're your kids.
I find it interesting how quick we are to tie such a heavy burden to this man when the chances are we have denied Christ in some way within our hearts making us no different than he.
That thought makes my blood run cold.
*applauds*
AMEN, Dandelion, I agree with you. If the terrorists were going to kill everyone then perhaps this denial would not have been necessary for survival.
Happy to oblige. Don't you need to go mow your lawn?
Peter denied Jesus 3 times before Jesus died for our sins --- maybe it's different now.
Ah, but repentance IS a chance to right the wrongs we have done - it is one of the actions Christians must take in order to be forgiven of their sins. Jesus himself tells us so...
Matthew 4, verse 17:
17 'From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
And being required to repent, we are all given the chance to repent - Peter himself tells us that.
2 Peter, Chapter 3, verse 9:
"The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
We are all given the chance to right the wrongs we have done - we are all given the chance to repent. The Bible tells us so, and therefore, if you believe the Bible is the inspired or literal word of God, then it must be true...
We are all given the chance to right the wrongs we have done - to repent and be forgiven. So it shall be with this man.
He lied to the devil. The joke is on Satan. He was not speaking to man. He was having a conversation with a devoid.
Doesn't matter anyway, it's not your call. This fellow will be judged someday. But he will not be judged you or I.
Nice try though.
How's about you not putting motives or words in my mouth?
The word "that" applies to an object. The word "who" applies to a person. But you know that. Saying your statement was twisted is not the same as saying you are twisted, but you know that.
I haven't checked but I'll bet you could get all the gory details on Al Jazeera, or other jihadi websites, it makes the so proud.(sick)
Okey Dokie sinky...
LOL!
Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
I wouldn't automatically consign anyone to hell for lying about his faith, but Christian persecution under Islamic rule isn't terribly different from Christian persecution under Roman rule,
Christians presently in free countries do not meet in catacombs.
What a nice "below-the-belt" punch you've got there. Are you a jerk every day, or only on days when it benefits you the most?
This situation that is one man against thugs that were killing everyone else. They are thugs that have zero inclination to be moved by his claiming that he is a Christian. In fact that's a given reason they would kill him. Notice he is a business man and citizen in an area that forbids Christian proselytising that acknowledged his faith with his name given afterwards. It's not as if he's out of danger now.
I guess at any rate, he's just very lucky that the Muslims believed him and didn't slice his neck anyhow --- or he would have just denied God and then been killed with no time for forgiveness, he would have in fact joined the side of his murderers --- become a part of them right before his death.
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