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."
The great bulk of the populations of Europe and America need to see and hear these things, often and in forums which they are likely to view and accept them. NO, the bulk of western civilization does not believe the seriousness of the threat from radical Islam -- the bulk of western civilization still believes that if you treat anyone, no matter how radical, "fairly" they will like you and be rational with you.
I'd much rather have a first-person mouthpiece out there in the "mainstream" telling their story than a dead, silent martyr whom no one would hear of again and whose story would never be told.
My bad. My original post should have had the word "appears" in it.
Forgiving sins doesn't necessarily mean the consequences of sin will be removed. God may help soften consequences but if a christian kills someone, they still have to go to jail. King David is a perfect example. I hope I would do the right thing, but I'm not so sure.
Yeah, I think some people do see G-d as a G-d waiting to hit them with a stick. Just waiting.....
Good post.
Applause. You must have LOVE in your heart.
Who knows what Muslims will do? Their sins belong to them alone...
I read something once that I liked: If you were put on trial for being Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
I just cannot bring myself to condemn this man for what he did, in denying his faith. If I, a mere fallible human cannot fault him, how much more safe is he in Christ's infinite mercy and love! Even Christians sin, and must be forgiven, in this life.
And here he is a witness to the world of what the Muslims did, killing on the basis of religion... a lesson for us all to choose where we will stand.
I never stated that. Quit trying to put words in my mouth.
Maybe he can work on being forgiven --- but he certainly came close to eternal damnation. He threw away his faith and denied God just seconds before he might have been killed --- you have to wonder what you would do --- but you do have to keep in mind the muslims might just decide to kill you or might not believe you --- so you're going to be dead right after you gave up your faith.
Read the thread. This has already been addressed.
Ernest found the link where an article was posted about the mutilation and cutting of throats.
I know, it's the same thing I thought of.
Still --- if the Devil comes for you -- and it could easily be in the form of a Muslim, would you want to tell the Devil you've just joined his side right before he takes your life?
You know what they say about discussing religion and politics, LOL!(no offense intended, humor)
I think it important to clarify something here. The consequence of sin plays itself out in one way - death. While there are certainly temporal ramifications upon our life the penalty for sin is no less than death. God most certainly relieved us of the consequence (the true penalty of sin) by offering his own son upon the cross in our place.
Fundamental rule in reading scripture: every verse modifies the entirety of scripture and the entirety of scripture modifies every verse.
This man was tested at a point and failed but God never fails.
I do not know. I have stated on this thread several times that I would hope God would give me the strength not to fail this kind of a test.
What is with the people on this thread who can't read English these days?
The question that's not being discussed at all, though, is whether or not the guy was really ever a saved Christian to begin with, or was just raised in a home that called itself Christian. There are a lot of people in our own country that would call themselves Christians if polled, yet have never accepted Christ and are therefore hellbound.
Another interesting question: Assuming you're a Christian, what would you do? I think I would answer CHRISTIAN, but it's way easy to talk about what you'd do and way different when a gun's in your face. (I've had a loaded, cocked gun against my temple and it was nothing like it looks on TV.) As already noted, Peter denied Him three times when the heat was on.
MM
Even though I am not happy with the word "Diverse," I would never condemn anyone in here for their beliefs.
FR is full of thousands of people and we are all different. I wasn't very happy with the other poster putting words in our mouths.
It's always comforting to find someone in here of like mind, though. :)
Relax man. Take a look at my original post. I wrote,"from an Orthodox perspective..." We Orthodox believe Christ himself established the church, and thus the Nicean Creed and the canons of the ecumenical councils are to be followed because they have the authority of Christ and are tradition as handed down by the fathers of the church. Perhaps you are a Protestant and don't accept such tenets of Christianity. That's certainly your perogative; I was just posting an Orthodox perspective. Peace.
Right, I understand that. And while there may be unavoidable consequences, it does not mean you are going to hell. And we do not receive what we should according to our sins, we do receive forgiveness.
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