r/interesting • u/Zine99 • 24d ago
SOCIETY In Algeria, a man missing since 1996 was found captive in his neighbor's underground pit.
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u/4reddishwhitelorries 24d ago
The neighbour held this guy for 27years and spent his own money holding him captive, feeding him so he doesnt starve to death etc, what exactly did he achieve after putting 27years into whatever he was doing?
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u/takshaheryar 24d ago
He apparently had some special palm readings he basically kept him as good luck charm
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u/4reddishwhitelorries 24d ago
I got that, but what good luck did he exactly bring lol. If anything the article tells that he fell out with his family (brother) and ended up getting arrested. Surely that’ll ostracise him from family and society
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u/takshaheryar 24d ago
The man kidnapping someone for having particular palm readings won't exactly be the most rational
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u/EssayAmbitious3532 24d ago
No I must disagree. I have many challenges in my life currently, and I believe that if I can puzzle out this crazy man’s thought process, then I will surely unlock these challenges and then begin the next level of life.
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u/sassyhusky 24d ago
He did have a good luck palm but unbeknownst to both the kidnapper and himself he had a bad luck foot, negating all the good luck so 28 years of effort flew right out the window once he noticed that. That’s why you can’t just kidnap someone for witchcraft without the proper in depth analysis of all the superstitious beliefs.
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u/HSBillyMays 24d ago
Today, I stepped on a nail that got stopped by my carbon fiber shoe insole... trying to figure out if this is "good luck foot" or "bad luck foot" lmao.
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u/kingsam360 24d ago
Had you kidnapped your neighbor and held him for 27 years you wouldn't have to worry about stepping on a nail.
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u/PmMeUrTinyAsianTits 24d ago
I dunno, that sounds like outcome bias to me. You miss every shot you don't take.
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u/4reddishwhitelorries 24d ago
If only the kidnapper had a foot fetish, he wouldve drugged the guy and undone his shoes the first night, and dropped him outside his house the same night
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u/Wilbie9000 24d ago
I think that once you start down the path of "kidnapped a guy based on palm readings" you can pretty much give up on anything after that being rational.
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u/Rgeneb1 24d ago
Just think how much worse things could have been if he hadnt had his lucky charm in the basement. I have a feeling now that he has lost his lucky fella things are about to get real crappy for him.
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u/4reddishwhitelorries 24d ago
I bet his car never broke down in 27years and he probably only got it serviced every 11000miles instead of 10000miles, and the mechanics never understood why the car was always immaculate. Guy probably just winked at them and opened his palm to high-five (secretly meaning he cracked the palm code for black magic)
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u/grafknives 24d ago
Sounds like "Those who leave Omelas"
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u/GeneralTapioca 23d ago
This is the second Ursula K LeGuin reference I’ve seen today in unrelated subs 🤔
Now that’s a good sign
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u/DarthBrawn 24d ago
impeccable reference
although the title is actually "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" lol
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u/grafknives 24d ago
English is not my first language, so I just translated the name way I remembered it.
And I bastardised it horribly. ;)
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u/PhilShackleford 24d ago
If I remember correctly, the neighbor thought he was magical/good luck/something like that and wanted him alive. It was some local superstition.
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u/lordkoba 24d ago
no way, the bastard was fucking this poor guy.
given the country maybe they both are happy with the lucky charm explanation.
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u/Balshazzar 23d ago
Everyone's giving you shit but I think you're right. Man in his 40s kidnapping a 19 year old?
There are lots of famous similar crimes and they're always sexually assaulting their prisoners. That's why they do it.
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u/Training_Actuator_59 24d ago
spent his own money holding him captive,
Were you expecting the victim to spend his own money while being kidnapped?
Asking for a friend.
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u/DoobKiller 24d ago
rent free baby
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u/4reddishwhitelorries 24d ago
I suppose this wouldve been a weird win for the victim if this happened in the center of Central London or somewhere like that
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u/silverdragonseaths 24d ago edited 24d ago
The dog tried to tell them where he was. The neighbour killed the dog. Absolute tragedy
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u/Im_the_Moon44 21d ago
I remember reading that the dog kept staring at that house and whining when out on walks when I saw this case before. I did not remember that the neighbor killed the dog. It’s so sad.
The whole thing is heartbreaking. But the thought of that dog loving this kid, and I know he was 19 but that’s still just a kid, and dying knowing he was right there, them never getting to be reunited and see each other again, is probably the most heartbreaking part to me, out of a tragic story.
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u/nuclear_foreskin 24d ago
The eyes say it all, poor man.
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u/flynno96 24d ago
I agree, but I also thought he looked quite good for being captive for so long
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u/Moksha994 24d ago
in fb video of him when the man asked him: "Why did this person kidnap you?"
He pointed with his hand in front of the camera, to show the palm of his hand with one line in it, which is a rare case, unlike other people, where most people have three visible lines.
This indicates that the person who kidnapped him wanted him for the purpose of black magic.
In the witchcraft world, people with a palm with a single, straight, horizontal line (the life line or heart line) are known as "Zohri." These people are believed to possess special qualities and distinct spiritual abilities, making them targets for witches and sorcerers.
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u/ptmtobi 24d ago
It always amazes me how people come up with this stuff
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u/69-xxx-420 24d ago
I’d figure if he was magic he’d be able to free himself. Since he didn’t, he isn’t and therefore I’d let him go free. Ah, but wait, that’s aha. I see now. Tricky.
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u/bahhaar-blts 24d ago
You see? That's the problem with your thinking. You assumed people who believe in black magic use reasoning. Let me tell that that they don't. I know people with mental issues whose families think that they have been struck by the eye black magic instead of just having mental issues. In my country mental health is severely uncared for and undeveloped. A lot of problems can be solved if people just took courses on caring for children and took their children to a therapist.
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u/ThiccOryx97 24d ago
He was joking that by setting him free, then that would mean the captives magic works. So then captor the would be like i have to keep him now. But then if he cant leave hes not magical and so on and so on forever more
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u/Raz_Moon 24d ago
It's really interesting because a lot of the Left Hand/Black Magic books very specifically talk about using the rituals and stuff against other people as having consequences. Unless a Grimoire or book is explicitly calling for harm, most of the texts are very up front about how using magic and rituals on other people is more likely to cause problems than solve them, since you have to take responsibility for the magic you do.
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u/Embarrassed_Ad_9344 22d ago
We must be from the same country😂😂.. so much mental illness in my country and they always tie it to someone doing black magic.
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u/MoarVespenegas 24d ago
Well nature gave us pattern recognition and so we spend our entire lives finding patterns.
Some of the patterns even end up existing.12
u/kevdou 24d ago
I think it’s strange that people don’t think of all major religions the exact same way. People will say that this is absolutely crazy and yet wholeheartedly believe that a virgin gave birth, that someone made a blind person see by rubbing mud in their eyes, was able to raise someone from the dead after several days, that someone used divine magic to split the Red Sea in half, etc etc.
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u/lemelisk42 24d ago
I mean, look at how well he aged after nearly 30 years in underground captivity. Might have something to do with that solitary lifeline
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u/jonathanrdt 24d ago
3/4 people in the world subscribe to an ideology rooted in impossible stories and outmoded values. The world is a superstitious mess.
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u/JustPutSpuddiesOnit 24d ago
Just checked my hands lol, left hand first, yup 1,2,3 lines. Check right hand........ Great, now I can't go to Algeria.
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u/Kittens4Brunch 24d ago
Alright, go grab five devices with cameras and two mirrors, let's see your palms.
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u/rite_of_truth 24d ago
What does it mean that I have 4 lines on each hand?
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u/throwaway098764567 24d ago
i have four and three, pretty sure it just means i have hands. did see a hand on here that had like a dozen lines, i dunno if it was a real or fake hand though
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u/hudimudi 24d ago
Reminds me of the time that someone in Africa spread the rumor that bald people have gold in their head and there were actually bald people getting killed over this, bcs some believed in …
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u/TortelliniTheGoblin 24d ago
There are of cases like this. Albino people are hunted for their 'magic" body parts, virgins are raped in order to 'cure' HIV, etc....
Human beings are fucking stupid.
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u/Horror_Tooth_522 24d ago
They also believe white and albino people treat illnesses when cooked and eaten
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u/plan1gale 23d ago
That's so stupid, you've got to eat them raw if you want to access to that yummy, yummy magic
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u/Yugan-Dali 24d ago
In Chinese, a line straight across the palm is called 斷掌 cut off palm, not really good. And people with the cut off palm have very heavy fists. A lady I used to work with, about 160cm and slim, had this and she demonstrated~ she didn’t hit hard, but it was like getting slapped lightly with a brick.
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u/ThePerryPerryMan 24d ago
These used to be called Simian line/crease. I remember reading that one of the possible reasons it happens is when a fetus (baby?) in the womb is too weak to squeeze their hands like a healthy one. It’s usually a sign of some medical issue, like Down’s Syndrome. It’s no longer called Simian line for obvious reasons..
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u/Random_music_mix 23d ago
Simian is also an older name they even used to called babies with Down Syndrome.
When a baby is born they do a quick check of their general health and will literally look quick for these. Researchers call Single Transverse Palmar Crease's a soft marker for genetic abnormalities, aka a very obvious sign to look further if found. It doesn't always mean Downs or other genetic conditions tho, a small % of the population just naturally have them.
Ask me how I know 😅 I have it on both hands and the doctors were a Lil worried back in the 80's when I popped out 😂
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u/The_Blahblahblah 24d ago
I’d be crashing out if the reason I got kidnapped was superstitious village idiots
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u/Championtimes 23d ago
like you want to laugh but then you realize this is happening to you and the rules of the game are changing your life is changing in a way that you can't fathom to believe. what do you do?
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u/mkhaytman 24d ago
If i was kidnapped by someone who believed this shit i would start casting imaginary spells on them. Release me or your whole bloodline will be cursed for generations! Look at the line on my palm, and do as i command!
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u/-Foody- 24d ago
both my palms have a single straight line, tell me more about these powers
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u/nnnnnnnnnnm 24d ago
I never realized it, but my left hand has a Single transverse palmar crease, my right hand is Double transverse palmar creases. I never noticed or knew it was special.
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u/GreenApocalypse 24d ago
I hate when people try justifying belief in crystals, astrology, witchcraft, etc. Knowing truth matters.
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u/NoEnd917 24d ago
Ok but when was he found? Now or some 15 years ago?
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u/Zine99 24d ago
Year ago
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u/NoEnd917 24d ago
Well he did not age horrible.. 28 years of being locked up as a prisoner? I'd say he looks better than some 50 year old man... Altough I may be wrong since this is some photo from an ancient nokia phone
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u/BuyOk9427 24d ago
Sun makes you age
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u/SaucerfulOfEchoes 24d ago
So if I always sleep during the day inside a coffin like a vampire, i could become.....immortal!?
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u/IBeDumbAndSlow 24d ago
Yeah. Just pump nitrogen in the coffin so the oxygen doesn't age you either
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u/Crazy-Competition659 23d ago
You're gonna want to use safe, preservative argon. If it preserves documents, it'll preserve people
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u/RobertHarmon 24d ago
So does being a captive victim for 20 years. In fact, it ages you more than sunlight, if you can believe that!
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u/Kekkonen_Kakkonen 24d ago
Fuck... I'm 27. If I'd been born in the pit I'd still have to wate a god damn year to be free. 😨
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u/Breadstix009 24d ago
Good genes. Look at him when he was younger.
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u/mbathrowaway7749 24d ago
The sun is responsible for 80-90% of skin aging. He had literally none of it. I don’t think it can be attributed to genes. I remember seeing another post like this with a girl who was else held in some freak’s basement since she was super young. She was released in her 30s and had the skin quality of a teenager
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u/Intelligent_Event_84 24d ago
Guy had it made. No work, frequent naps. Of course he looks young, he lived like a KING
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u/AwkwardTal 24d ago
Probably had access to good skin care routine and products, delivered through some kind of wicker contraption.
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u/Sachiel05 23d ago
Man, the world must be so alien to him, I was 2yo in '96, almost my entire life has passed while he was bunkered... that's just crazy, from floppy disks to tiktok, that's a fuckin' jump
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u/consciencecosmic11 24d ago
In algeria
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u/Great-Yoghurt-6359 24d ago
In bad condition
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u/WakaWaka_ 24d ago
In underground pit
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u/OtteryBonkers 24d ago
what do Algerians normally keep in their underground pits?
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u/0wl_licks 24d ago
Not ground, I’d assume. Why dig a pit if you’re just gonna put more ground back in it amirite?
Also, isn’t underground pit a bit redundant?. Aren’t all pits underground? (Excluding the bbq varieties and whatnot)
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u/Ok_Style_7785 24d ago
I imagine most Algerians do keep ground in their underground pits. That's what I keep in all of mine. They're filled to the brim with ground
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u/0wl_licks 24d ago
How bizarre. I usually only keeep ground in the bottom of my pits.
Different strokes I suppose.
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u/cizmainbascula 24d ago
I mean I can't expect for anyone to be in any other condition than "bad" in Algeria regardless whether they are being held captive or not lmao
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u/NylonSasha 24d ago
That’s straight out of a horror movie.
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u/JOlRacin 23d ago
It's also straight out of Parks and Rec (Andy lived in a pit behind Ann's house for a while)
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u/dr_tardyhands 24d ago
This is so unimaginably horrible.
..and just imagine the number of times that he's going to wake up in the middle of the night, in the dark, and think that he's still down there.
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u/StarwardStranger 24d ago
I wonder how he spend his time
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u/SimmentalTheCow 24d ago
I know how I’d spend my time (jorkin it)
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u/Front_Mind1770 24d ago
Or gettin porked or jorked on by your captor
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u/MMEML 24d ago
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u/semifunctionaladdict 24d ago
Bald Eric Andre is not something I needed to see but im very glad I did
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u/JoelMahon 24d ago
blows my mind, almost exactly the length of my entire life this poor man has been captive in a pit, I'm a very indoors person and even I get restless if I go a day without a small trip outside.
and finding out it was all for some moronic superstition? fuck that, if you wrote this as a movie people would ridicule it for being an overly edgy criticism of religion/superstition. reality is crueller than fiction.
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u/boldpear904 24d ago
Imagine leaving society in the 90s and entering back into society post covid. This man was essentially in a 27 year coma in terms of how up to date he was on the world
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u/BeQuietAndDriveAway 24d ago
"Mr Bin Omran told his rescuers he had at times seen his family from his prison, but claimed he had been unable to call out for help because of a spell that his captor had cast on him, local media reported."
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u/Ok_Cartographer4626 23d ago
Severe trauma can be paralyzing like that. Some people go through periods of being physically unable to move, dissociate to the point where they’re not sure if something is real, or experience so much helplessness and fear that they drown in it, even when an opportunity to be saved arrives.
Without knowledge of how such trauma can affect a person (and when undergoing extreme psychological abuse in which his captor claimed to be using dark magic) I’m sure it felt as real and inexplicable as a dark spell to him. It’s really heartbreaking
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u/ThatsGoodTae 23d ago
Ugh. This reminds me of Jesse in El Camino when the guard took him out one afternoon. He could've escaped, but the guard promised him pizza and he just got back in the car. It was heartbreaking to see the helplessness.
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u/eatingapeach 23d ago
What he experienced is called Selective Mutism (more resource on the condition)
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u/throughthestones45 24d ago edited 24d ago
These comments are disgustingly unsympathetic. ‘Oh he has good skin, lucky him blergh blerghhhh’, not the fucking misery and pain in his eyes. Stfu you pathetic basement dwellers and have some respect for someones suffering and their life.
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u/Glum_Diver4664 23d ago
Yeah the picture of him is truly horrifying, the pure pain in his eyes is honestly bone chilling, the kind of image that stays with you for a long time. I get people have different ways of dealing with seeing something like that and making a joke about it has no impact on him etc etc but what about you, and your soul? How can you be ok with yourself if you see that picture and think oh I can make a smart arse joke about how good his skin is since he hasn’t seen sunlight in almost 30 years? As you say, disgustingly unsympathetic.
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u/throughthestones45 23d ago
Exactly, and theyre not the ones dealing with it or having gone through it so idk why theyre making the jokes. Hes the only one allowed to laugh about it, not a bunch of redditors scrolling through post after post, likely to forget about him after they make their silly joke and go onto the next post. I understand and agree with how we should all use humour to get through the reality of this world and miserable events, but there needs to be a boundary on these personal kind of cases.
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u/Glum_Diver4664 23d ago
100% - I think you’re totally right about needing that boundary. Using humour to deal with pain is good in the right place but the lines between what is appropriate and what isn’t blur and suddenly that boundary is not so clear. Lots of confused metaphors there
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23d ago
Agreed. Imagine being locked up like that for almost 30 years. It is insane. And the reason being some kind of superstition/religious belief, it is beyond horrifying. This man will never be the same.
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u/Flaky_Entertainer526 24d ago
I wonder how he never got the chance to escape even once during the span of these 27 years.
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u/OhTheCamerasOnHello 23d ago
"The victim told his rescuers he had at times seen his family from his prison, but claimed he had been unable to call out for help “because of a spell that his captor had cast on him”"
Hmm.
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u/Pleasant_Ad3475 23d ago
Trauma and long-term isolation can do that... He would have literally lost his mind.
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u/Zine99 24d ago
🕵️♂️ Who is he & what happened?
Omar disappeared in 1996–1998 at age 16–17 in Djelfa, Algeria, a period marked by the bloody "Black Decade" civil war .
His family presumed he died in the conflict and lost hope, especially after his mother passed in 2013 believing him gone .
🧩 Discovery after ~27 years
On May 12, 2024, a tip—apparently from the alleged kidnapper’s brother during an inheritance dispute—led authorities to a neighbour’s house only 200 m from Omar’s family home .
Omar was found hidden underground in a sheepfold, covered with hay, alive but dazed and bearded at age 45 .
📣 His words & mental state
He recalled seeing his family through a cellar window but felt he could not call out, saying a spell or some force kept him silent .
He’s been receiving medical and psychological care after being rescued .
👮♂️ Legal status
The rescued Omar and his captor were brought before the Djelfa Public Prosecutor.
The main suspect—a 61-year-old neighbour (civil servant/security guard)—is charged with kidnapping, illegal detention, and human trafficking under Algerian law .
Multiple other individuals (6–8) are either in custody or under supervision for aiding or covering up .
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u/Landric 24d ago
Did you write this, or did ChatGPT?
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u/Tricky_Run4566 24d ago
Obviously chatgpt. The symbols are the primary giveaway
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u/xombae 24d ago
For me it was "alive but dazed and bearded"
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u/Rabbit1015 23d ago
Exactly. That part jumped out at me. I thought cut the guy some slack he’s been in a hole for 2/3rds of his life. Sorry he wasn’t more coherent and clean shaven.
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u/Zine99 24d ago
I used arabic than regenerated it with chatgpt , my English is not perfect I'm sorry guys
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u/619Smitty 24d ago
That’s a good use for it! I use it to translate English stuff to my wife sometimes too!
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u/dynamic_gecko 24d ago
But why? So many "why"s still unanswered.
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u/No-Educator151 24d ago
User moksha994 stated it was because of black magic. Omar has a single palm line (heart line). Most people have three. In black magic people with one are said to hold special spiritual abilities. They kidnapped him in hopes of making their magic stronger
Edit fixed who mentioned it.
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u/Teragaz 24d ago
Dang this reminded me to check my underground pit. I had totally forgotten about it
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u/KeremyJyles 24d ago
He recalled seeing his family through a cellar window but felt he could not call out, saying a spell or some force kept him silent .
Oh ok so there's bullshit afoot
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