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Taliban offers deal on workers©Associated Press
© St. Petersburg Times, KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan's ruling Taliban offered Saturday to free eight international aid workers charged with preaching Christianity if the United States "halts its massive propaganda campaign." The workers -- four Germans, two Americans and two Australians -- are charged with trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, a serious crime in this devout Islamic nation, especially under the strict rule of the Taliban militia. All are employees of the German-based Christian organization Shelter Now International. Sixteen Afghan staff of the same aid organization also were arrested. In Islamabad, Pakistan, John Mercer, father of American aid worker Heather Mercer, said he was encouraged. "The issue of the detainees is now out there, and as I heard the news, they asked that the U.S. cease any propaganda directed at bombing the Afghan people, that they could still continue their words against the Taliban," Mercer said. "I don't think the U.S. has ever indicated they were going to harm the Afghan people. So this is very encouraging." The Taliban's chief justice, Noor Mohammed Saqib, said last week that the case against the aid workers was unrelated to the crisis with the United States. He has refused to discuss possible punishment should they be convicted. For Afghans, the mandatory punishment for preaching Christianity is death. The aid workers' trial began in Kabul almost a month ago but was delayed for nearly three weeks after the attacks in the United States. It resumed a week ago after a lawyer for the workers saw his clients for the first time. The Taliban's Supreme Court gave him up to two weeks to prepare his defense. Mercer, 24, and the other American -- Dayna Curry, 29 -- were arrested Aug. 3 in Kabul. Two days later, the Taliban's religious police came to the offices of Shelter Now International and arrested the other six foreign employees and 16 Afghan staff members.
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From the Times wire desk
From the AP |
