Christians' Trial in Afghanistan to Resume Sunday

Voice of America, September 29, 2001

In Afghanistan, the Taleban says it is delaying until Sunday resumption of the trial of eight foreigners accused of preaching Christianity.

The Taleban's chief justice, Noor Mohammad Saqib, at first announced the trial would resume Saturday, then announced a delay, apparently to settle procedural matters.

A Pakistani lawyer versed in Islamic law is in Kabul to represent the eight foreigners, who worked for an aid organization in the Afghan capital before their arrest in early August.

The defendants, two Americans, two Australians and four Germans, have been charged with preaching Christianity, a crime under the Taleban's interpretation of Islamic law. They appeared in a Kabul court earlier this month and said they were innocent.

The September 11 terror attacks against the United States, and the subsequent pressure on the Taleban to turn over accused terrorist leader Osama bin Laden has left the fate of the jailed aid workers uncertain.

Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, sent a message to Taleban leaders Friday, urging the release of the eight foreigners.

The VOA correspondent in Islamabad says the Taleban's handling of the aid workers' case is being watched closely as an indicator whether there is any chance of resolving the dispute between Afghanistan and the United States over Osama bin Laden.

The eight foreigners were arrested in Kabul in early August, along with 16 Afghan co-workers. It is not clear what punishment the foreign aid workers may face, but the Afghan prisoners could be sentenced to death if they are found guilty of violations of religious law.

In another development, Taleban officials say they have detained a British correspondent who entered the country illegally.

Yvonne Ridley, a reporter for the Express newspapers in London, reportedly was taken into custody near the Afghan-Pakistan border, about 60 kilometers south of the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Pakistan's Afghan Islamic Press news agency says Ms. Ridley was wearing Afghan clothing and a veil and was accompanied by two guides, who were also arrested.

The British Foreign Office says it is making inquiries on Ms. Ridley's behalf.

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