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."
Is it better to live a life or have a soul eternally saved? Not a taunt, but a question
Thanks Doc. I Like the freepers alot and I find fit in with most views. I tend to stay away from religous arguments though as I really dont have anything to contribute. I do find it curious how many Christians here have different interpretations of the same writings. Maybe the Moslems have similar problems with thier religions? Actually based on differnt reports I can say with some certainty that they do have problems with thier interpretations.
>>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.
The Preacher said: "For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion." -- Ecclesiastes 9:4
He didn't. That is what the Messiah was expected to be by the Jews of the day, and it is evident from many of the things the disciples said or asked that they had a great deal of difficulty seeing Jesus without that presuppositional grid.
You imply that motivation for Peter in justifying your characterization of Peter's action in denying the Christ 3 times.
I didn't "imply" anything of the kind. The disciples were disillusioned by Christ's death and probably thought they had wasted three years of their life following a false Messiah.
None of what I have said is outside the mainstream interpretation of the Gospels. Don't blame me if you haven't done your homework.
Until one is faced with such a horrifying situation, it is not your place, nor mine, to criticize.
That is true in that He doesn't hand down the judgement we deserve. His hand of judgement is tempered by mercy. That doesn't mean that we don't reap what we have sown. A woman might go out and have a one-night stand and become pregnant, go to God and repent and be forgiven. That doesn't mean that He will take away the consequences of that sin (the baby).
How does quoting a biblical passage make one a nut job?
Yup. That's pretty much it esp. if he stays where he is.
How can you be sure that this Jordanian man was indwelt by the Holy Spirit; that he had come into the fullness of his salvation? There are Christians at all stages of maturity on their journey. We cannot judge. We can do no more than we are doing here...speculate on how God might view the man's actions, all the while recognizing that it is between God and the man himself.
baloney.
I John 1:9...
yes.
we can sin and "get away with it."
we all do it... every single day, by omission or comission, we all deny Christ.
how many times a day can you deny christ and get a way with it?
If HE follows his own standard laid down to peter and the apostles... at least 490 times.. "70 times 7"...
If God breaks his own word regarding forgiveness of sins confessed, heaven might as well be hell. I have no interest in following a merciless god who does not keep his own commandments and guidelines, and breaks his promises to forgive and cleanse of ALL sins, whenever we confess them...
That kind of god, would be the devil.
Only man made religions, could be so stupid as to believe in such a god.
Jesus forgave peter after his denial.
Judas could have been forgiven, had he confessed his sin, instead of hanging himself. God is no respector of persons.
out of context.
I don't know God enough. I'll be getting into heaven by the skin of my teeth.
Yep. If God gave us what we really deserved, we'd all be finished. God is very merciful I think.
Doc, I agree that the time of persecution of Christians right here in the USA is drawing near. Within twenty years, I believe Christianity will be treated as some kind of wacko fringe by the overwhelming majority of mainstream America.
MM
Exactly. How many people on this thread have ever been threatened at gunpoint over their religion. Come on, raise your hands. Oh, none of you, I see. How many of you KNOW whether this man will be forgiven? Oh, none of you. Wow. A lot of judgement for not much knowledge.
Good point. And it may have been God, or a Guardian Angel, who placed that Koran near enough to him that he was able to deceive the devil and save his life (and maybe continue to provide for his family on earth -- I didn't read the details).
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