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Christian lied about faith to survive Saudi siege
Reuters ^ | 31 May 2004 14:43:21 GMT | Samia Nakhoul

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."


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; christianarabs; coward; hostages; khobar; radicalmuslims; saudiarabia
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To: sinkspur
"Jesus never demanded martyrdom of his apostles."

That is true...Just so ya know..I didn't come on here to preach or teach..just to makes some comments, and try to understand better.

521 posted on 05/31/2004 5:47:02 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: spunkets
"You're thinking real hard there aren't you. First he's not a liar, because he was under extreme duress."

And, I suppose under extreme duress that every one of Jesus' twelve Apostles and many others were foolish in not lying their way out of death? They probably could ave just simply denied Christ and gone on living and gone off on thhe merry to witness to a more peaceable, and accepting people?

"Second he was speaking to satan in his native tongue, dealing out the rubbish he so deserves."

True Christians don't speak "satan-ese" anymore. They speak the Word of God.

"But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." Mark 13:11 You see, God will provide the Word, there is no mention of "lying your way out of the prediciment" to save you skin. "He lives and that makes God happy and satan disappointed. Neither God, nor any that love him see this man's actions as a sin, they see it as triumph over satan and a bunch of his vicious clowns.

I don't judge him, because God is the ultimate judge. However, Hebrews 10 telles it this way:

"But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

"For yet a little while,And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

522 posted on 05/31/2004 5:51:38 PM PDT by KriegerGeist ("In the war on terror there is no substitute for victory" General Douglas MacArthur (and GK))
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To: Cronos

I don't GET this. First off, The USA believes in religeous freedom. MANY folks here believe Jesus was NOT the Christ. If *I* said I did, To save mine or my childs life, I would be sent to eternal damnation?
Thats notr the g-d i know.


523 posted on 05/31/2004 5:52:37 PM PDT by mizzmouse
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To: sinkspur

I don't know but I think denying Christ is when a government is demanding you to change your faith and beleif, as what we hear regarding a New World Order, denying Jesus to save your life from terrorists I think G-d understands the motive behind the act


524 posted on 05/31/2004 5:54:59 PM PDT by missyme
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To: P-Marlowe; sauropod
Sauro..P-Marlowe said exactly what I couldn't explain clearly. On my post #500, I wrote "to deny God...means that he or she isn't saved in the first place."....meant that someone who has denied that God exists--meant that from his heart. That is what I think the verses in matthew mean. The way to understand the context of any verse in question, is to read the entire chapter..(which I've not done tonight..but I have read that chapter before..it makes it easier to understand)

This is a great online helper for debates like this. :)

http://bible.gospelcom.net/

Chapter 10
I hope this link works.

525 posted on 05/31/2004 5:56:54 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: Geist Krieger

After spending some time in the word today because of this very topic, I agree with what you have written.


526 posted on 05/31/2004 5:57:13 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: missyme
denying Jesus to save your life from terrorists I think G-d understands the motive behind the act

You are exactly right, missyme.

527 posted on 05/31/2004 5:58:24 PM PDT by sinkspur (Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
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To: hunter112

Maybe the following story is "urban legend," maybe not:

I heard that once a person in an occupied country was asked if he had anything to say. The person said, "Oh, by the way, we have Jews upstairs." He really WAS hiding Jews, but the way he said it made the Nazis think he was being sarcastic, so they left without checking.


528 posted on 05/31/2004 5:59:25 PM PDT by rudy45
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To: sinkspur

No, Jesus certainly did not demand martyrdom. But, he did say that whoever lays down his life for His name sake would gain it. He also guaranteed us that we would be persecuted. I just hope that if I am ever in this situation that my faith will be so strong that I will not consider death to be the worst fate. He did not deny me on the cross so I hope that I do not deny Him to my enemy.


529 posted on 05/31/2004 6:00:21 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: PleaseNoMore

Wouldn't the key be to have peace with that concept before hand..preparation so to speak?


530 posted on 05/31/2004 6:02:33 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: sauropod

But are you certain this was the exact type of case Jesus was referring to? I am not. I also think God will make the decision on this, so I will not deem to prejudge this man in this instance.


531 posted on 05/31/2004 6:03:34 PM PDT by Proud Legions
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~

I believe so. I believe that the depth of our knowledge of Christ and a strong intimate relationship with Him would prepare us. I also believe that there would have to be a special dispensation of grace???


532 posted on 05/31/2004 6:04:35 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~
I believe so. I believe that the depth of our knowledge of Christ would be a factor and having a strong intimate relationship with Him would help prepare us. I also believe that there would have to be a special dispensation of grace???

Sorry, I deleted some of my original reply and then pushed "post"...duh....

533 posted on 05/31/2004 6:06:26 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: af_vet_1981
"What is a tribal Christian?"

"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 thought it had something to do with post 321.
534 posted on 05/31/2004 6:07:31 PM PDT by DocRock
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To: sinkspur

But, the scripture says something totally different. How can we justify denying Him to save our own skin when He says DO NOT FEAR them who can kill the body? He goes on further to say that if we lay our life down for His name that we will surely gain life. I don't know of one case where Jesus justified lying for any reason. He even said that satan was the father of ALL lies. ??????


535 posted on 05/31/2004 6:08:49 PM PDT by PleaseNoMore (Veterans, without you we would not have our freedoms. Thank you for your sacrifices.)
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To: PleaseNoMore
I agree! This thread is really excellent and I'm glad it didn't get moved to chat etc...

Some nice verses about his grace...

536 posted on 05/31/2004 6:11:03 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: PleaseNoMore

Just a comment and question...I can't get over the fact that this was spoken before he died..... He was warning them of the trials to come, right?


537 posted on 05/31/2004 6:13:23 PM PDT by Freedom2specul8 (Please pray for our troops.... http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/)
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To: DocRock
I thought it had something to do with post 321.

No. I would not stain myself with a post like that.

538 posted on 05/31/2004 6:13:42 PM PDT by af_vet_1981
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To: af_vet_1981
Sorry for the confusion.
539 posted on 05/31/2004 6:14:37 PM PDT by DocRock
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To: PleaseNoMore
How can we justify denying Him to save our own skin when He says DO NOT FEAR them who can kill the body?

Not every person will be able to heroically face death in this way.

It's ridiculous to think that Jesus will condemn a frightened, terrorized hostage to hell because he didn't want to die.

You are under no obligation to share the truth with scumbag terrorists. Lie all you want.

540 posted on 05/31/2004 6:14:44 PM PDT by sinkspur (Adopt a dog or a cat from an animal shelter! It will save one life, and may save two.)
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