I donned the dark dishdasha robe and covered my head and face with the red and white shumag scarf and headband. As I approached the entry I could see two guards at the door. I slowed my pace a bit and considered. Obviously they were there to restrict entry. But how to get by them?

Two men crossed the street in front of me and hurried towards the guards.

“There is no god but Allah” I heard one of them whisper. “…And Mohammed is his prophet” was the countersign the guard gave. The two quickly entered the building.

I nervously approached the guards. Could it be this easy? They were powerfully built men, and from the bulges under their clothing I could tell they were armed. I looked the closest in the eyes. His brown eyes looked like a Rottweiler’s ready to pounce.

“There is no god but Allah”, I managed to say without my voice cracking.

“And Mohammed is his prophet. Take the stairs to the left and join the others below.” He said after a moment of hesitation.

I descended the stairs into the basement.