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."
Nor I. It is the duty of all non-Muslimes to lie to the scum. But unlike the Joprdanian here, I would not tell the world I had lied, one knows that Jordan is a hot bed for the creeps ter perps.
Deny Christ and God will deny you in the afterlife.
He should enjoy the time he has left on earth. It will be more pleasant than what is in store for him.
Peter also rejected Jesus before the crowd. Still, I have a feeling Peter will be in heaven...
Our eternal life is not dependent on our perfection. It is dependent on Jesus' perfection - the perfection that understands our human frailties and weaknesses, and loves us yet.
Condemned the ones who murdered the Christians, rather than the Christians who faltered in the face of such evil.
I would thank God would make an exception for such times.
Huh?
I was wondering why he called us "nut jobs." What was said to make him say that.......
"Our eternal life is not dependent on our perfection. It is dependent on Jesus' perfection - the perfection that understands our human frailties and weaknesses, and loves us yet."
I have been trying to come up with a way to express my thoughts on this thread, and you have just said it beautifully. Thank you.
I fear that it is coming soon. And "Muslim-Americans" (how I hate using references to hyphenated Americans) will find that they will fail the Islamist's "test of faith" because they will be found to be "not Muslim enough."
Where do you get that?
Pod, if he HAD eternal life, he still has it.
The question is whether he had it to begin with.
I only hope I would not deny Christ in such a time. Even some major heroes of the reformation denied Jesus the first time, but the last time, they recanted and boldly proclaimed their faith to their death.
If this person turns his back to Jesus, that's one thing.....but I don't think that's what happened.
You don't make that decision.....Some people in this thread should stop judging the guy for lying and let the Almighty work it out when the time comes.
Peter denied Christ 3 times and received forgiveness. THANK YOU!
Oh! Ok! I'm waking us now. heh!
Someone on Fox News said that some bodies had been mutilated. But then nothing else was mentioned.
They weren't confronted by men, but by animals, and vermin at that. I think they get a pass.
The people that see the Bible as the worlds largest chose you own adventure book and will point out 1-3 verses that support their point, ignoring everything else that may hurt their point.
What if your kids were in the room with you, would you lie then?
But have you forgotten the verse where Jesus says (paraphrasing) "Those who deny Me before men I will also deny. Those who acknowledge Me before men I will also acknowledge."?
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