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."
You said they wanted to hear about Romans leaving and Israel returning. He said the temple was to be utterly destroyed. Where is the "what they wanted to hear?"
Yes, I'm aware of that. I wasn't condemning him, just pointing out an example of lying.
Yes, He does. Mark10:14-15 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
He did ask that men be perfect though. It all depends on their capacity. Peter's denial was followed by his testimony, just as this man's.
Matthew 5:48 "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
It seems those that are claiming to be more perfect are tossing out a stumbling block here.
This is my first post here. been lurking for awhile. What I find interesting about religion is that it doesnt come natural. It must be taught. Why is that?
Seems to me that many Christians here read and interpret the bible differently. Very confusing for someone that want taught religion.
One of the reasons I have chosen no religion is because they all want to condemn me to hell if I chose the wrong one.
Just an outsiders perspective. Please carry on.
Sheesh! Never mind. Obviously you aren't hearing what you don't want to.
My interpretation, and it's just that, an interpretation is that Jesus expects our hearts to be perfect more than anything. This man may do many wonderful things for people on a daily basis and just because he loved his life and was "weak" does not mean he is meant for the eternal fires of hell.
Sure would... According to the bible.. Everybody has eternal life, everybody. The question is where you're going to spend it, not that you have eternal life at all. But according to some christian religions that sell tickets to eternal life. You must pay to get on the train to paradise when the train is absolutely free for both destinations and the ticket scam is bunko. Jesus came to make religion obsolete, and DID..
That's it.
I asked where Jesus said that he would rid the land of Romans and restore Israel. You imply that motivation for Peter in justifying your characterization of Peter's action in denying the Christ 3 times. You have not demonstrated that justification. Bottom line is that Peter had an idea that Jesus would die and rise again as proved in Matthew 16.
The demonized murdering Muslims don't deserve the truth. I strongly tend toward telling the truth, but in this case, they don't truly "deserve" it. If this man *did* tell the truth, that would have been fine in the eyes of the Lord, I believe. But his telling a lie to these demonized men ... I would not consider a damnable offense. The Lord is prone toward forgiveness and "craftiness."
Wasn't there a prostitute who deceived people, and who thereby was praised in Scripture -- even honored to the point of being included in the lineage of Christ?
The Christian faith is not as simplistic as some pretend it to be. The Lord is clear about truth/lies, right/wrong, but sometimes that works itself out different from how we knee-jerk interpret it to be....
I, for one, do not condemn this man for lying to these demonized Muslims.
Again, recall Peter's denial of Christ. The Lord is a crafty and forgiving Lord. While it may have been better to tell the truth and leave your wife without a husband and your children without a father, perhaps in this case it was the Lord's will for this man to give these murderers a response they deserved -- a lie.
Lying is not as simplistic as we pretend it to be. Did Jesus lie, for example, when he pretended that he was going on to the next city after his resurrection, when he was walking with the men along the road? He certainly was deceptive.
And was Jesus lying when he spoke in riddles with a main purpose being that some would not understand?
There is a place for crafty speech.
Yeah, my first thought was, uh-oh. I hope he asks for and receives forgiveness for this.
Lying about jews in the attic is one thing, denying one's christian faith is another. Yes, I would lie to the nazis about hiding jews, but I would not lie to them about my faith in Christ.
Well, if Peter was forgiven, I'm sure this guy will be forgiven too. But he made a very tough choice. I pray that we will be stronger than that when the time comes.
What of the 3 young fellows who were thrown in the belly of the furnace. They did not speak against their faith. They were saved. Seems this fellow placed life over soul.
Your post to me also makes me consider what a miracle it is that this man had the presence to think of this scheme under such extreme fear and pressure. I think it was very brave of him to have the nerve to lie to these terrorists. It's a miracle his life was spared.
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