In 2004, Father Douglas Bazi was abducted in Baghdad while serving as a priest at St. George's Church. For three weeks, he was held captive by insurgents, subjected to torture and solitary confinement. In his book, "Abducted in Iraq: Priest in Baghdad," Father Bazi recounts his harrowing ordeal and the strength he found in his faith.
The Abduction
On February 28, 2004, Father Bazi was driving to church when he was stopped by a group of masked men. They forced him into their car and drove him to an unknown location. For the next three weeks, he was held captive in a dark and isolated cell.
5 out of 5
Language | : | English |
File size | : | 6623 KB |
Text-to-Speech | : | Enabled |
Screen Reader | : | Supported |
Enhanced typesetting | : | Enabled |
Word Wise | : | Enabled |
Print length | : | 185 pages |
During his captivity, Father Bazi was interrogated and tortured. His captors beat him, shocked him with electricity, and threatened to kill him. They also tried to break his faith by forcing him to deny his religion and renounce Christ.
Strength in Faith
Despite the physical and psychological torture he endured, Father Bazi refused to give up his faith. He prayed constantly, and he found strength in the words of the Bible. He also drew comfort from the memory of his family and friends.
Father Bazi's faith not only helped him to survive his ordeal, it also gave him the strength to forgive his captors. He believes that they were acting out of ignorance and desperation, and he prays for their salvation.
The Aftermath
After three weeks, Father Bazi was released. He returned to Baghdad and resumed his work as a priest. However, the scars of his experience remained. He suffered from PTSD and nightmares, and he struggled to adjust to life outside of captivity.
With the help of therapy and the support of his family and friends, Father Bazi slowly began to heal. He wrote his book as a way of sharing his story and helping others who have suffered from trauma.
Hope and Healing
"Abducted in Iraq: Priest in Baghdad" is a powerful and inspiring story of hope and healing. Father Bazi's ordeal is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. His faith and forgiveness are an example to us all.
If you are interested in learning more about Father Bazi's story, I encourage you to read his book. It is a valuable resource for anyone who has experienced trauma, or for anyone who is interested in the power of faith.