Yesterday I posted about my book. Major General Datuk Toh Choon Siang responded to my book. 

This was his response." Bro Swami, every memoir deserves to be judged for what it is ie. a personal account of a life lived, not a court judgment. 

Whether one agrees with every conclusion or not, no one can deny that it takes courage to put decades of svc, sacrifice n painful experiences on the record. As fellow soldiers, we know that loyalty doesn't mean silence. 

Sometimes the most loyal act is to speak honestly about what we witnessed so future generations can learn from both our victories n our shortcomings. Your book is more than a war story; it preserves a chapter of Malaysian mil history thru the eyes of someone who served it. 

It invites reflection, not blind agreement. Respect for a memoir lies in engaging its ideas with reason, not dismissing them because they make us uncomfortable. Well done, bro. Nonetheless, there'll always be nay sayers.

Proud Tradition

Also my dear friend and warrior Lt Col Idris Hassan : Well done Maj Swami. I agree with every word said by Gen Toh Choong Siang. Unfortunately my lack of writing skills prevents ms from adding on to what the Gen has already said.

From my friend in the US :  Glad it's getting good coverage in the US academic circles. Also wanted to say that your book is also in the Cornell library: Cornell University.

Lt Col Ivan Lee : Well done Swami, a book deserves the recognition and appreciation for the service you have given. This will go down in history for future generations to read and learn from you.

The powers that be in the Military should push their young front line officers and NCO's to read this book. It covers leadership, training, physical hardship, loyalty of a soldiers under adverse conditions, that you must love your soldiers who are under your command. That your boys will fight the way you train them.

Hypocrite

Jamil was detained by the MACC for seven days and released after his remand ended. Let us be clear. Being charged does not mean he is guilty. But it does raise another question: What was his responsibility as the minister overseeing Tabung Haji?

He was religious affairs minister from 2009 to 2018. During that period, Tabung Haji came under his ministerial responsibility.

The royal commission of inquiry has since exposed serious weaknesses in its governance. Among them were four hotel leases in Mecca and Medina between 2015 and 2017, involving about RM1.54 billion in upfront payments.

The RCI found weaknesses in due diligence and risk controls. Rental payments later fell into arrears, prompting Tabung Haji to take legal action in Saudi Arabia.

This was not a small administrative mistake. This involved more than RM1.5 billion. So where was the minister?

Jamil has said Tabung Haji decisions followed recommendations from the board and that he relied on its governance processes. But is relying on the board enough? More importantly, is simply accepting its recommendations enough to discharge ministerial responsibility?

As the PAS president did not elaborate, it is necessary to look at his earlier statements on the matter. In launching the 62nd PAS Muktamar in Pengkalan Chepa, Hadi said, “We intend to take a new approach to revive what was implemented by Islam 1400 years ago”; that is, he wants to implement Islam that was practised in the seventh century.

At a dialogue session of his party with Indian NGOs on Feb 4, 2018, Hadi was reported as saying “... that there would be two cabinets should the Islamist party come into power. One (is) a cabinet that decides on national policies. This must consist of people who adopt the national ideology and faith. This cabinet will then appoint an executive cabinet to carry out the policies, and the members can be non-Muslims...” 

Have you all heard about the Duku Ilang?

Veteran 1972 : When Sabah and Sarawak joined Malaysia, they did not join an Islamic state. Malaya became Malaysia. The Malaysia Agreement was reneged on by UMNO,  PIS wants to take it a notch higher. That's Arab Nationalism. 

You guys are Malays have some semblance of pride in your heritage. Get rid of your Arabic names, incidentally many are synonymous with Jewish names. If you go against the Constitution you are no different from The Communist Party Of Malaya. Look at the Indonesians they are proud of their Hindu heritage.  No one is interested in your faith. 

Tomorrow is the 25th Anniversary of 911 in the USA, the internet is your downfall. 

Key Terms and SafeguardsFounding Conditions: Formed based on conditions requested by Sabah (the "20 Points") and Sarawak (the "18 Points"). State Autonomy: Reserved local authority and special safeguards for Sabah and Sarawak regarding immigration, religion, native customary rights, language, and state finance. 

Immigration Control: Sabah and Sarawak retained autonomous control over entry into their respective territories. Point 1 – Religion While there was no objection to Islam being the national religion of Malaysia, there should be no State religion in North Borneo, and the provisions relating to Islam in the present Constitution of Malaya should not apply to North Borneo. 

No amendment modification or withdrawal of any special safeguard granted to North Borneo should be made by the Central Government without the positive concurrence of the Government of the State of North Borneo. The power of amending the Constitution of the State of North Borneo should belong exclusively to the people in the state. More.....

@edynoorreduan

DEPAN ZAHID, ASYRAF DAN AZALINA, MBNS TokMail dakwa telah dipaksa ‘sign’ dokumen lucut Tuanku Muhriz (Laporan Straits Times). Adakah ini bermakna permainan politik Umno menjatuhkan Raja Melayu di Negeri Sembilan?

♬ Epic Music(863502) - Draganov89

Malaysiakini : Three Umno top leaders have denied accompanying Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim to meet the state's disputed territorial chieftains last month.

This is amid intense speculation that Umno's top leadership have decided to back the chieftains in deposing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as state ruler to make way for a rival claimant to the throne - Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Jaafar.

This followed The Straits Times' report that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, and information chief Azalina Othman Said were present at the meeting where Ismail (above) claimed he was forced to sign a document affirming the chieftains' decision to remove Tuanku Muhriz.

Met on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly yesterday, all three denied being present when Ismail met the chieftains.

Asyraf said that, as a national leader, he does not get involved in state affairs, while Azalina flat-out denied it.

EmEmKay : Something is clearly brewing inside Umno, and this latest report only reinforces that impression. The first red flag is the "timing" and "platform". 

Why is such a politically sensitive story about internal Umno manoeuvring surfacing in a Singapore newspaper first, instead of in Malaysia? And why now – right in the middle of the.....

VP Biden : Who leaked the information to the Straits Times in Singapore is more pertinent. And naming Zahid as one of the influencers. Something is brewing in Umno. 

They have smelled power due to PH inactions. They are gunning for Zahid to take the umno throne. The No.2 in umno is from NS , don't forget. Zahid will need to guard his back n determine who he wants to be friends with, PH or Pas ( who are favoured by the .........

Wannabe Camel Jockey

Malaysiakini : COMMENT | Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, the infamous Chinese Muslim convert, slammed Penang for declaring the Hungry Ghost festival as official state heritage because the wandering souls "could not be seen".

"What's the real Malaysian identity?" he asked in his Facebook post on Sept 5, just five days before the Seventh Spooky Lunar Month ends. That was such a cheap shot against his own ancestors' culture. Perhaps the restless spirits can visit him to prove they are "real".

But is belief based on physical sightings? Has anyone actually seen God? Or Heaven? Non-Malays rebutted Ridhuan (above) by joking that he needed only to look in the mirror to see a ghost. Sure, he's not a literal one, but he rather resembles a malicious spirit – in the flesh.

We can laugh at the toxic bug spray of racist saliva from Ridhuan, but on social media, many people applauded him for bashing Chinese culture.

On one Facebook post, he got 15,600 likes. There were many comments supporting him too. One "Nino" denounced Penang for portraying itself as a state with a Chinese identity. "Ini bertentangan dgn semangat kebangsaan Malaysia. Apa tujuan sebenar Kerajaan DAP? (This is against the national spirit. What is the real purpose of the DAP state government?)"

hrrmph : "agama, syurga, neraka, bumiputera, bahasa, raja, menteri, mulia, suka, duka, jaga, jati" are Sanskrit? One fine day, one "illustrious" professor will tell us that these words originated from the Malays. 

When reality fails one's belief of one's "greatness", just change the storyline. If you ignore contradictory records that does not please your ego, they will not exist in your mind. 

Say it to everyone around you, gather those of like mind and you will have a whole kampung (maybe the whole nation) thinking the same and so, it gets easier and easier to ignore the world outside. Soon you can even charge and imprisoned people who dare to point out the realities of the world. Sounds familiar?

MarioT : It is simple, to understand their motives and objectives, Andrew. It is more a publicity stunt to claim I am holier than thou. But by doing so, they become hostile to their own existence. 

My forefathers were Hindus and I am a Catholic and it never prevented me from respecting everyone's way of life. Wisdom tells me that I have a choice to choose but should never condemn or look down on others' practises.

Timestream: The Persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt

A religious group is being harassed, imprisoned, and murdered for its faith on a staggering scale—affecting nearly 400 million people worldwide, much of it in the Muslim world.

A crisis of this magnitude should dominate the headlines. Instead, it is met with silence. Why does the West refuse to see it? Raymond Ibrahim, who has been monitoring and writing on the Muslim persecution of Christians for 20 years, breaks it all down.

Islam has a phobia of any religion other than its own. Raymond, you are a modern Knight fighting for Christendom. To me it looks as if those in Power - in the West - are actively helping in the persecution of Christians. Look at the UK, praying in your head outside an Abortion Clinic gets you arrested, charged and prosecuted. I'm Assyrian and they butchered 50% of our population under Ottoman Turkey in the 1915-1925. Only 2 people of my entire family survived the genocide.

Why did New Yorkers forget 9/11? How can you let this happen in your city? Don't ever stop exposing these lies in New York. The Muslims have a foot hold. Wake up New Yorkers! How Is Americans Allowing This in NYC??? This is BS!!! And our Tax dollars pay for all of This!!! Because they hired only Muslim cops to ticket non-Muslim people! Where is the discrimination in that?

This year is the 25th Anniversary of Mass killings by Muslims in New York. How soon you forget? September 11 attacks killed a total of 2,977 victims. It is religiously sanctioned Apartheid. Fucking ridiculous. Sick of them pretending this is an accident, this shit is PLANNED.

• Its greatest strength is its honesty. It isn't presented simply as a story of military achievement. Swami combines combat, training, Somalia, jungle operations and military life with his account of the institutional problems he says he encountered.
• It goes beyond a conventional war memoir. The central tension is between loyalty to the country and disappointment with aspects of the institution he served. That makes the book as much about identity, belonging, merit and loyalty as about warfare.
• The discussion of racial and religious prejudice is probably its most controversial feature. Importantly, these are the author's experiences and allegations; a reviewer should distinguish those firsthand claims from independently established facts. The book's willingness to put such experiences on the record is nevertheless significant.
• The military dimension appears particularly valuable. The descriptions of combat, jungle operations, Somalia and command situations give the memoir substance beyond its social commentary. One recent review described it as “riveting, scary, bold, unflinching” and emphasized its stoicism.
• It isn't a comfortable patriotic book. That is both its strength and its limitation. Someone looking for an uncomplicated story of military heroism may dislike the emphasis on institutional failure and discrimination.
• It has also gained some recognition beyond the author's own presentation of it. The book is listed by the ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute library in Singapore and by international bookseller Mary Martin Booksellers, which gives it a degree of bibliographic visibility beyond a purely personal publication.

Overall, I'd call it a brave, uncomfortable and important memoir rather than simply a “good war story.” Its real significance is that a Malaysian Army officer chose to record not only the battles he fought against an enemy, but also the battles he says he fought inside the institution he served.

And that is what makes Exigent Circumstances unusual: the author doesn't portray himself merely as a soldier who survived difficult operations; he portrays himself as a soldier who remained loyal while questioning the system around him. 

To purchase this book please click on this link. The details are all there. Few copies left.

It was then termed the turning point in cleansing the game of its ills and restoring the reputation of Malaysian football.

The move was aimed at safeguarding the association’s integrity and reputation, while minimising the risk of further fallout for Malaysian football, with officials saying that restoring public trust and support was a key consideration behind the decision.

The mass resignation was expected to allow investigations and internal processes to proceed without interference, while also paving the way for new measures and reforms to be implemented smoothly.

Most stakeholders want to see these weaknesses addressed and are prioritising genuine reform over election matters, declared then-acting president Yusoff Mahadi.

“This collective resignation is a prudent and principled step to protect the integrity of FAM, uphold good governance, and give the AFC and Fifa (International Federation of Association Football) the necessary room to assess administrative reforms without prejudice,” he said.

Arab regimes and that in the end all of humanity would become Muslim, practice real Islam and there would be peace and justice on earth for everyone. When I mentioned a lot of people would die in such a scenario, he simply mentioned that they would be welcomed as martyrs.... 

I realized that in its radical form, Islam is an end of times cult. The US Navy was created for the sole purpose of defending American ships and sailors from Islamic pirates, and what established the United States Marine Corps as an overseas fighting force was in the first Barbary war in 1805. They have to destroy Christianity in order to build Marxism. They think they can control Islam.

Hadi Bawang The RM90 Million Man

Non-Muslims in cabinet: Hadi's speech open to interpretation, says political aide

Sin Lee Huang: I am not sure what PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s aide was thinking, or whether he knows what he is talking about, when he said it is up to the reader to interpret what Hadi said.

The point of Hadi's speech is to clarify his thoughts and his direction, not to invite people to debate or speculate about what is on his mind. I have no doubt that Hadi was intentionally vague. He wants PAS to be able to claim inclusiveness while not committing to anything.

Since I am invited to interpret Hadi’s words, I say this confirms that he is paying lip service to inclusiveness, as his words confirm that he is sidelining non-Muslims, if not worse.

Picture Fu: Very simple to interpret. This is racism at its core. Even his own aide cannot elaborate and leaves you to imagine. What is there to interpret when what you said is unconstitutional and very racist in nature?

Green Falcon 2290: This aide needs to precisely interpret what is intended, not leave it to tens of millions of people to interpret in a million different ways.

Why does he make such a frivolous, meaningless remark? As to the remark itself, why is this a surprise to anyone? Isn’t the principal objective of all the Malay parties known to all?

The next 10 years will see this objective being put into practice. Hadi has merely enunciated in public what they all know in private, and he should be commended.

DebbieOng: Have they forgotten that Malaysia is not an Islamic country but a secular one? Yes, this is a Muslim-majority country, but the Federal Constitution, the supreme law of the land, defines Malaysia as a secular nation. This is not open to interpretation.

Hence, Hadi and PAS are now trying to redefine our beloved Malaysia. Thus far, Hadi and PAS have been spewing a lot of intimidation towards non-Muslims should they come to power. Moreover, they are only concerned about their own wealth, not the welfare of Muslims at the grassroots level.

Apa nama: Hadi is not suitable to talk about administering Malaysia, a secular, multiracial and multireligious country where any Malaysian, including non-Muslims, can constitutionally become prime minister if the person enjoys the support of the majority of MPs.

There is no such thing as a political party, such as PAS, dictating who can hold certain ministries and who cannot. As usual, Hadi is talking nonsense. He should retire from politics once and for all, since he cannot accept that non-Muslims are Malaysians as well and have equal rights constitutionally.

KN Samy: The non-Muslim “leader” within PAS will definitely support such a stand, as he may be able to play a subordinate role when and if PAS wins, symbolically showing non-Muslim participation.

I do not think that the majority of non-Muslim citizens in this country will accept this, as it is definitely making them subservient to the Muslims in this country.

For that to happen, PAS has to discard the current Constitution and proclaim Malaysia an Islamic theological state. Let us see whether this is feasible first.

Darma Kochi: “Hadi said that while non-Muslims can be ministers, their roles would be limited to portfolios that oversee the execution of government policies while Muslims handle policy formulation.” Hadi, are you implying that non-Muslims are not capable of handling policy formulation?

Raj Pragasam: It is interesting to note that Hadi is confident that PAS will win more seats than Umno in the 16th General Election, to lead the next government. I wonder who is depending on whom?

Sidelining or ignoring non-Malay partners by denying them positions in the cabinet, or appointing them to ministries of lesser importance, is the height of ignorance and arrogance.

Hopefully, PAS does not occupy ministerial positions in finance, education, defence, home, law, trade and industry. I do hope that they do not convert the nation into PAS-governed states. PAS may put us on a track of no return or hope.

Tan Meng Kee: Hadi wants to break up the Malaysian social fabric, keep non-Muslims on the fringe, and run the federal government according to his whims and fancies without any regard for the Federal Constitution. How can we allow such a person and his party to gain power?

Kandiah Chelliah: Hadi and PAS are extremists in the context of Malaysian politics, as verified by this speech.

The Malay Muslims are only about 63 to 65 percent of the population if Sabah and Sarawak’s populations are included. The Muslims in these two states are Muruts, Suluks, Melanau and other local natives. The Chinese and Indians form around 25 to 30 percent.

To say that non-Muslims in Malaysia’s cabinet should only be given “limited” policy-making decisions is totally racist and extreme. Such political parties should never form the federal government. Just leave them to rule the three Malay-Muslim-majority states.

P Dev Anand Pillai: Since 1990, PAS has been administering the state of Kelantan. What do they have to show the rest of the states in terms of their ability to administer a state whose economy thrives and creates jobs for the masses from other states?

Lee: Minorities have no rights under PAS. What he says is just telling everyone that this is what the minority deserves when they become the government.

Don’t ask for more and you will never get more than that.

In other countries, minorities have had the chance to hold important positions and even become heads of state. In this country, minorities are always portrayed as being out there to take over the country.

Yeoh Ng Khong: “Open for interpretation” is an easy answer without any clarity. Just a waste of time. Running a country is never a guessing game. It needs to be clear and objective, not riddles.

Anyway, the public knows who the smart people in business are.

Chefoo: After almost 70 years of independence, which was fought for equally by all races, PAS says non-Muslims, even if chosen to be in the cabinet, can only be policy implementers. Only Malay Muslims can formulate policies.

Mossberg Malaysian Infantry

The American combat shotgun, the Winchester Model 1897 "trench gun" and its successor the Model 12, was born clearing German trenches in 1918 and came back to war a quarter-century later in the jungles of the Pacific. 

At close range, in the dark, on a narrow trail, a single blast threw nine heavy buckshot pellets across the path, and a trained man "slam-firing" the old 1897 could empty six shells in about five seconds. On Guadalcanal, Marines used it to break Japanese rushes at the exact distance the enemy had fought so hard to reach. 

This video covers the whole of it: the design of the trench gun, the slam-fire trick that made it so fast, the bloody trench-clearing work at Belleau Wood and the "Devil Dogs" name, the formal German diplomatic protest of September 1918 (and the threat to execute captured shotgunners, which the U.S. flatly rejected).

However, his remarks about non-Muslims in cabinet and the roles they would be limited to have raised questions about what this actually means for PAS' partners should the Islamist party head the next government.

Hadi (above) said that while non-Muslims can be ministers, their roles would be limited to portfolios that oversee the execution of government policies while Muslims handle policy formulation.

As examples, he mentioned that non-Muslims could hold positions in the Works and Forestry Ministries.

Asked to elaborate on what ministries PAS considers suitable for non-Muslims, Hadi's political aide Syahir Sulaiman (above) said it was up to individuals to interpret the PAS president's remarks.

Syahir said this was not the first time Hadi had made such a distinction, adding that the two ministries mentioned by the Marang MP were merely examples.

"It depends on how one wants to interpret it - which ministries oversee the country’s core areas, and which ministries are more focused on implementation and matters concerning the people," he told Malaysiakini.

Whether these meant ministries dealing with the country's core areas would be reserved for Muslims, the Bachok MP again said the remarks were open to interpretation.

Syahir also stressed that when it comes to forming a cabinet, PAS would have to take into account the views and agreement of all stakeholders.

tanweikuan : This fella is thinking all non Muslim are low IQ and behaving such a naive way…..the nation will be doomed if taking over by him or let the nation faith to god….

Steven Ong Chin Chong : Seem like Malaysiakini had begin practising what PAS and Hadi had said about limiting non Muslim's participating in the social dialogue . Will my comment about a country under Islamic rule be posted for all to read?

Kapil Kitchlu : Astonishingly user-unfriendly comments section.

He pointed out that PAS was “not an immigration counter for the hereafter” responsible for handing out “heaven stamps” to those who sign up as members and vote for it. “Heaven does not belong to PAS. Heaven belongs to Allah,” he reminded.

Mahfuz was responding to PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan’s statement that supporting or joining PAS can lead a person to heaven. The Amanah leader said that while PAS can encourage people to support and vote for the party, it must be emphasised that PAS was never given a sacred mandate to determine who enters heaven.

“PAS should not behave as though it is the gatekeeper of heaven - those who vote for PAS get the door opened, while those who do not are told to wait outside.

“If one vote for PAS is indeed a ticket to heaven, I would like to ask directly: Since when did a ballot paper become a passport to the hereafter, and since when was a political party given the power to determine a person’s final destination?” he asked in a statement.

Only Allah knows

Urging politicians against overzealousness, Mahfuz said they should refrain from “turning heaven into currency for buying votes” in their pursuit of power.

“Islam teaches us that a person’s standing in the eyes of Allah is determined by faith, piety, good deeds, justice, trustworthiness and the mercy of Allah. Not by the colour of a flag, a party logo or the candidate’s number on a ballot paper.

“More worryingly, statements like this could create the perception that Muslims who choose other parties are somehow on the wrong path and have no place in heaven.

“If voting for PAS is a ticket to heaven, what then is the fate of Muslims who do not vote for PAS? Does that mean Muslims who are not members, do not vote for and do not support PAS will be deemed to enter hell?” he asked in a statement.

Arguing that statements like Takiyuddin’s are not a healthy way of bringing Islam into politics, Mahfuz said the religion is far greater than PAS.

“If they truly want to make politics a struggle for Islam, then talk about trust, justice, corruption, poverty, education, the welfare of the people and the ethics of governance. Show it through administration and deeds, rather than claiming that support for a political party is a ticket to the hereafter.

“That is not Takiyuddin’s right. It is not PAS’ right. It is the absolute right of Allah,” he added.

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READ MORE: Religious minister: Political support does not guarantee a place in heaven

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Not the first time

This is not the first time PAS leaders have invoked divine rewards as part of their political appeal.

The party and its leaders have, on various occasions, sought to frame political support not merely as a choice at the ballot box, but as something carrying religious merit or consequences in the hereafter.

Takiyuddin had said those who died fighting to defend Islam would be regarded as martyrs, rewarded with divine blessings and granted entry into heaven.

He said the phrase “joining PAS means entering heaven” could be interpreted as political opponents mocking the party, but maintained that PAS’ struggle was rooted in Islam and aligned with teachings commanded by Allah.

asokkumar : But PAS says so.

Nehru made him India’s first education minister, Abul Kalam Azad distorted history to cover up misdeeds of Islamic tyrants

PIS

– PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang circa 2016

COMMENT | The dumbest argument made against PAS is that it exploits religion. PAS does not need to exploit religion because PAS more often than not defines religious policies in this country.

PAS' first principles are its atavistic interpretations of religious dogma. Its political agenda, which it has sometimes sublimated when it was in Pakatan Rakyat, for instance, is to make a theocratic state in form and, more importantly, in substance.

PAS has never hidden who they are.

Here are a few examples of religious exploitation: Presiding over the religious conversion of a youth; claiming that the destruction of an illegal holy site is a victory, then attempting to walk back on that statement; the wearing of the tudung (headscarf), when many women argue that it is a choice that is denied to them; non-Muslims interpreting Quranic verse to suit a political narrative; and advocating for Islamisation through the constitutional process when you claim to be a secular party.

Kajang pigeon : I understand now why Poland has strict policies, i also understand why the US is liberating Iran, Singapore as well deports these fanatics as soon as they get out of hand...

Asam Pedas : In short, it’s dangerous what pas wants to do to this nation. Once it gets 2/3 majority, what ever type of democracy we practiced will be dead and forever buried. 

With zero governance and selective welfare we will be fully Islamic and completely bankrupt completing with the likes of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Four years earlier, he fought at the Battle of Lepanto (a super important victory for Christendom), where the fleet of the Holy League confronted the Ottoman navy on October 7, 1571.

Cervantes got shot multiple times, and permanently lost the use of his left hand. He was incredibly proud of having fought there, later describing Lepanto “as one of the great events of his life”.

Then, in 1575, while sailing back toward Spain, his ship was attacked by Algerian corsairs.

They captured him and took him across the Mediterranean to Algiers.

For the next five years, he lived as a slave awaiting ransom…

From Lepanto to Algiers

Algiers belonged to the Ottoman political world, although its corsair society possessed “considerable autonomy”, and Christian captives could be sold, put to work, held for ransom, or incorporated into households according to their circumstances.

Cervantes became one of them.

His captors believed he might be worth a lot of money because letters found on him made him appear more important than he actually was. This helped keep him alive while making his release more expensive.

But Cervantes had absolutely no intention of spending the rest of his life there…

He Tried to Escape Again and Again

He tried to escape.
Then he tried again.
And again.
And again.

One attempt involved Cervantes and other captives hiding in a cave outside Algiers while waiting for a ship that was supposed to carry them back to Christian territory. The plan collapsed after betrayal, and Cervantes assumed full responsibility rather than snitching on his friends.

According to the sworn testimony recorded in the Información de Argel (October 1580), when the Turks were binding the group, Cervantes declared loudly so that both Turks and Moors could hear him:

“None of these Christians who are here are guilty in this business, because I alone have been the author of it and the one who induced them to flee.”

Taken alone before Hasan Pasha, he repeated that he alone was responsible and begged that any punishment fall only on him. Despite death threats, a rope placed around his neck, and hands bound behind his back as if for hanging, he refused to name any other Christian.

Another scheme involved trying to arrange a larger escape by sea.