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Taleban Displays Christian Literature of Aid Group
Sunday, October 7, 2001

KABUL, Pakistan -- PTI/AP
Kabul: As the third day of the trial of eight foreign aid workers charged with preaching Christianity ended on September 6, the ruling Taleban displayed Christian literature, movies and music cassettes confiscated from another international aid group that has since been evicted from Afghanistan.

The International Assistance Mission, which had operated in Afghanistan since 1966, was closed one week ago and its estimated 50, mostly American, employees expelled for preaching Christianity.

The eight aid workers - two Americans, four Germans and two Australians - on trial in Afghanistan were employees of Shelter Now International, a Christian aid organization headquartered in Germany.

The parents of the two Americans, Dayna Curry, 29, and Heather Mercer, 24, visited their daughters on September 6– their third visit since arriving in the capital 10 days ago. After their last visit on September 1 they said their daughters were healthy and in good spirits.

Also, three Western diplomats met Taleban Foreign Ministry officials, their first meeting in more than one week.

"It is very clear now that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to keep us informed," said David Donahue, consul-general at the US Embassy in Pakistan. He is Kabul with his Australian and German colleagues.

Meanwhile, the Taleban's Foreign Ministry on September 6 handed out copies of the IAM's constitution which says the group's purpose was to "help in strengthening the Christian church in Afghanistan"
(Source: IndiaInfo.com News Source)
©Copyright 2001 Indiainfo.com Ltd.

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