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."
Only to those who are uneducated. How are they to be interpreted?
My post #6 was a statement of what I believe to be true based on this scripture. My apologies if you think that observation is "arrogant" and "self-righteous."
I will take your words under advisement. 'Pod.
That sure does not look mainstream to me. As far as homework is mentioned, homework is not needed when a simple demonstration of fact is sufficient to disprove an allegation. Matthew 16 is clear evidence that Peter had an idea that Jesus would rise from the dead. A complete refutation of your false assertion. Nuff said.
I need to reclarify my statement...
After Jesus died in our place..those who are saved will be in the book of life...and that is the bottom line. IF someone denies Jesus..was he ever in the book of life in then first place.
Someone with a gun to his head?
Jesus never demanded martyrdom of his apostles. Nor does He demand it of us.
As has been pointed out numerous times, Peter denied Christ in much less stressful situations, and he's a saint.
God knows what's in his heart. So what would be gained by his confession to satan's vicious clowns that wouldn't be swayed anyway? They'd just kill him and no one would know what went on.
When you consider Matthew, there is a purpose in what God is saying there. What is the purpose in this case where it is clear, that all you will gain is death?
I modified my original position in post #6 by stating the words "it appears" should have been in my original post.
#202: Christian lied about faith to survive Saudi siege To: inflationI claim to be smart enough to state that he appears to have lost his eternal life.
My bad. My original post should have had the word "appears" in it.
202 posted on 05/31/2004 1:18:59 PM EDT by sauropod (Paleo-cons make better lovers)
I modified my original quote because of course no man knows what is in the heart of another. It is impossible for me to state then, that so and so has lost eternal life.
I did NOT change it because of "pressure."
I changed it to be more exact of what I believe to be true.
BTW, my correction is first in post #202, not in #374 as you claim.
With the modification "It appears" to be added to my original post, I stand by my original post.
And, honey, it's not me that is the waffling hypocrite here.
Examine what you've posted and see if your attitude is the "Christian" one to have. Methinks you would have been yelling "Free Barabbas! Free Barrabas!"
I dunno. Maybe I'm not smart enough to know if it applies or not because Christ died and rose again for us. What I have been trying to say (maybe not very successfully) is that I would not want to take that chance.
There you go again......
What is a tribal Christian?
Very well said. We should all pray every day that we be strong enough to do the right things. Fortunately, we have a merciful God who sees the intent of the heart and offers opportunities to repent when we are unfaithful.
The gig's up.
Now how should this man be judged? If he was expressing his heart when he denied being a Christian, then perhaps you are right about him losing his eternal life. But if his heart was not in it, then it was nothing more than a lie. And if lies keep us out of heaven, then none of us will be there.
Someone who is born into the religion by virtue of the family/tribe. It was not a personal decision/choice. The ME does not have the same concept of religion as America.
I wouldn't judge this man as not presently having salvation.
The gig's up.
Oh drats....
You have given me something to think about. 'Pod.
I agree with your theory......
Do you now? Well, I suppose then we should advise many Christians in NUMEROUS middle eastern countries that countless numbers of them are screwed because they have denied they are Christians. Rather than be killed.
You may think I'm incorrect but as I said before you can't prove it.
Let me ask you this. If a deranged devoid moslem burst into your house tonight and held a gun to your most loved ones head and asked you "are you a Christian?" what would you say? Knowing the loved one would be killed?
Well, I guess it now APPEARS like it was ME that was being arrogant and self righteous.
Sorry. :-)
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