Iraqi priest shares harrowing experience at the hands of Islamic captors

November 24, 2015

Editor

During his radio program Tuesday, Glenn spoke with Father Douglas Al-Bazi, a priest from Iraq who watched his own church blow up in front of him before being kidnapped and tortured by terrorists. He now hosts hundreds of displaced Christians in a refugee camp he founded in Iraqi Kurdistan, called "The Church of Martyrs."

Father Douglas called for listeners to "please pray for my community" after describing how he is preparing to help many of them leave their homeland and seek refuge outside of the Middle East. These rescue efforts could only be accomplished thanks to the thousands of generous donors to the Nazarene Fund.

"I told the people, I know we're going to start this --- this journey is like Moses," Father Douglas said. "But actually Moses in himself, he believed that 'I'm going to the Promising Land. Even me, I will not see the Promising Land. But I'm going to prepare it for our kids.'"

Tonight on his TV program, Glenn will give a sneak peek at an American Dream Labs (ADL) documentary film about the plight of Christian refugees in the Middle East. Watch a clip of Father Douglas describe how he responded to the torture he endured at the hands of ISIS.

Listen to more of Glenn's conversation with Father Douglas or read the transcript below.

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors.

How many ISIS members are Christian? The answer is zero. So how do you know who the good guys or the bad guys are?

Well, you start with the parish priest. You go find one guy. The one guy we found is Father Douglas. This is an amazing man that I want you to meet. He's over in the area right now. He is the pastor of -- you ask him what his church is, it's the Church of Martyrs. The Church of Blood. And he has set up his own refugee camp, and these are the people that we are bringing back in. The Nazarene Fund has raised now $12 million. That money is going to take and rescue many of his people. And he's on the phone with us now. Father, how are you?

FATHER DOUGLAS: Good. How are you? Thank you very much for this introduction of me. I'm just pleased. Okay? Not amazing. Not a hero. Nothing. Okay?

GLENN: Yes, sir.

You are -- A, you're a hard guy to get a hold of because you won't really sit down for an interview or go out to lunch or anything because you've told our team several times, I'm on God's time, I'm on God's work.

Are you in a car right now? Are you in the middle of a surgery for somebody or anything? Because you usually don't set aside a time to --

(laughter)

FATHER DOUGLAS: No. Actually now I'm in my office. I locked my door. I'm locked inside because I want to hear you very well.

GLENN: Okay.

FATHER DOUGLAS: So maybe many people -- kids, they will knock on the door, just to look at where I am. Okay? Yes.

GLENN: Father, would you do us a favor and tell us, you were taken hostage, and it is a pretty harrowing story. Can you tell us that story a bit?

FATHER DOUGLAS: You know, when we talk about a story, we talk always with the beginning and the end. But, you know, when we talk about persecution and pain because there is something we have here actually (inaudible). So we are not talking about the story, we are talking about lives. And we used to -- I'm sorry to say that, but some of the same situation -- and this is actually taken back many centuries.

And me, as the personal, I grew out a lot of events in my life, and they were really horrible events. But when I mention them, I always tell my people when I talk about what happened to me, I don't want you to feel sorry about me. But I want you to just open your eyes to what happened to my people.

Because I often say that, even when I went also to the United States this summer, and before in Europe, I told them, "I know that -- I believe that your kids, they're not going to be a member of ISIS. But there will be -- sooner or later, they're going to be victims by ISIS. So open your eyes and wake up."

What happened to me actually, I survived twice by bombed cars. They attacked my church one time. They blew up my church in front of me. One time, they were a group -- they wanted to kill me, and they shoot me. But they -- I just got shot in my (cut out) by an AK-47, and after that, I was taken up for nine days. Those nine days, of course, I cannot forget them because they were -- changed a lot me, as personal, my ambition, and my ways.

And those nine days there, I went out with completely -- they assault my nose -- by hammer, they broke my -- my cheeks. And also, they picked me -- my back. So that's why I went to -- to have a big surgery in my back because I changed one of the discs in my back. I spent almost one year in bed. And now I'm using actually fake teeth. When I smile, just -- those fake teeth, they're good for, you know, just taking photo. A selfie, you know, on phone or Facebook.

(laughter)

But just to keep my smile, you know.

GLENN: Hang on just a second. Hold on. Hold on just a second. Because I just want to translate in case anybody hasn't been able to keep up with this. He's talking about how, you know, he's humble and he doesn't want anybody to pay attention to what's happening. And he's butchering this story, and we're going to have this tonight on television where we sat down with him. And we have the story. And we reenacted the story. And it is -- I'm telling you, it is hair-raising and terrifying. They took him. They kidnapped him and put him in the trunk of a car. Kidnapped him. Took him out. Beat him with a hammer in the face for nine solid days. Broke his back. Really, really broke him up. But did not break his spirit. In fact, all the way along, he was actually counseling them on how to live their life.

Tell me the story about how they would come to you during the day. At night, they would beat you and torture you. During the day, they would come to you for spiritual advice.

FATHER DOUGLAS: Yeah. During the day, actually even with my eyes, they were covered because it was forbidden for me to see anything for nine days. And also, my hands, they were tied by chains.

But during the day, they used to come and ask me a private question or a general question. A private question, when one of them, he asked -- actually many of them asked me. "I have a question for you. My friends to go away. And I want to ask you a personal question."

Such as, one of them, I remember very well, he asked about, you know, about his wife. And he told me, she's always, you know, picky, demanding, and how can I deal with her? So just imagine I'm this way and tell her -- tell him, you know, "You have to tell her that you really love her. And every day, this is the law. Every day, you have to show the love to her."

And then he asked me another and another. And this happened during the day. But most people, the same people actually, during the night, during the night, they just change from sheep to wolves.

GLENN: How did you --

FATHER DOUGLAS: Yeah.

GLENN: How did you during the day -- must you ever want to say to them, "What is wrong with you, man?"

FATHER DOUGLAS: Speak it again, sir.

GLENN: Didn't you during the day want to point out, "Remember the conversation we were having earlier today when I was a human being, how are you beating me now?"

FATHER DOUGLAS: You mean, how was my day?

GLENN: No. I'm trying to figure out how to explain this.

How did you -- how did you figure out in your own head how there seemed to be two people, sheep and wolves, but they were the same individual. How did you rectify that in your head?

FATHER DOUGLAS: You know, it happened from the first day actually. The first day they asked me -- they told me, this is who we are. We're (foreign language) or (foreign language).

And, you know, a question like that when it's heard, immediately you will lose your life if you just, you know, answer in wrong ways.

So I remember the first day I told them, "Actually, I feel sorry about you because if any one of you has this chance in his life, in all life, to continue the school and to have certificate or degree, so any one of you will be like professor and doctor or, I know, engineer. But because you went to school, for I don't know what the reason, that's why many people will use you and now you are like gangs, but used by religious ways."

And, you know, they were really shocked. And they were, you know, silent. Almost two minutes, three minutes. And they start to talk to me each one what happened to him when he was a child. And so I know that actually, when there is no education, you can control the people. But people when they have really education, knowledge, so they can look nice. But without education, people, they will completely be lost.

And even the people that are not believing God, even if they -- many met them, a lot of Christians, even here in my parish, no one actually has chance to study like philosophy or theology. But, you know, the human thing -- the spiritual thing is love. But most people, really I feel sorry about them. They are completely blind. That's what I'm saying.

GLENN: Father Douglas Al-Bazi.

FATHER DOUGLAS: But when -- during the night, they became wolves because they were happy to obey to another guy. Okay? If they are not going to obey, they will be also killed.

GLENN: Father, how have you prepared your people to be rescued and leave their homeland and leave the church that they've grown up? How have you prepared them for this?

FATHER DOUGLAS: You know, I wish -- actually, I can't believe (inaudible) -- even we are proud because we are Iraqian. But Europe is not proud because we are part of this.

In any case, our land is actually with Jesus. Our land, it is him. So when we have that love and justice, we can create any land to be prepared for our community. And it is easy to us to prepare and build communities again, but to build is the man. To build human people, such as like the people here and around, it's really hard.

But I told the people, I know we're going to start this -- this is the journey, is like Moses. But actually Moses in himself, he believed that I'm going to the Promising Land. Even me, I will not see the Promising Land. But I'm going to prepare it for our kids. So --

GLENN: Will you see --

FATHER DOUGLAS: So to myself, to Father Douglas, I am telling every day to myself, "What are you going to do if it's not a benefit for you, if it's for the next generation?" So we it's tougher on ourselves to make the next generation to be safe. This will be our Promising Land.

GLENN: Father Douglas Al-Bazi, thank you so much. We will talk to you again. And hopefully we will some day get to shake hands and hug and meet one-on-one. Thank you so much. God bless you.

FATHER DOUGLAS: Pray -- please pray for my community.

GLENN: Yes, sir. God bless you.

FATHER DOUGLAS: Thank you. Thank -- thank you, sir. Thank you.

GLENN: More on him in just a minute. And you're going to see an amazing show done. Tonight's broadcast at 5 o'clock was produced by American Dream Labs. And it's a very different episode. And we sent our cameras over to sit with him and he's much easier to understand when you can watch him.

It is one of the most amazing stories you will ever see. And we're going to clip the part of him out of -- it's about four minutes from our visit over with him. And make that available so you can spread that. I mean, it's truly amazing. He prayed the rosary in chains. And he made his chains the rosary. He is a remarkable, remarkable man. I want to watch tonight's really inspiring episode at 5 o'clock on TheBlaze TV.church on martyrs. Church of Martyrs.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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