Benin, daughter
of Sheikh Ahmad Kataya, Imam of the mixed Bekaa town of Nabha got baptized three
years ago in Our Lady of Bechwat Church. The 24-year-old girl got baptized
willingly and decided to become a Christian with the help of Father Elias
Gharios.
When Benin left
her parents’ house six days ago, her parents threatened Father Gharios over the
phone on Sunday before kidnapping him Monday afternoon on the Douris – Al Ansar
road. They intercepted his car and pointed guns at his face.
Gharios said
that he was blindfolded and handcuffed; he was pressured and threatened in
order to reveal Benin’s whereabouts. Gharios confirmed to LBCI that he completely
ignores her location, knowing that rumors circulated in the town of Nabha suggesting
that she may have gone to a monastery.
Father Gharios
was detained by abductors for 5 hours during which security forces intensified
their efforts and Hezbollah Shura member Sheikh Mohammad Yazbeck contacted the
Kataya family members urging them to free Father Gharios as soon as possible. The
Hezbollah leadership mobilized its efforts at the highest level and before
midnight on Monday, Gharios was released and taken to the office of Sheikh
Yazbeck in Baalbek.
Father Gharios
did not want to prosecute his abductors after he identified one of them when
pictures were shown to him. Upon his release, he received both Shiites and
Christians well-wishers.