Posted on 09/08/2001 12:14:51 AM PDT by HAL9000
KABUL, Sept 8 (AFP) -Eight foreign aid workers on trial in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan for allegedly preaching Christianity will appear in court Saturday, a court spokesman said.
"The detainees will come here in a few minutes and journalists will be allowed to be present in the court," spokesman Maulvi Mir Habib Agha said outside the Supreme Court.
AFP via Babelfish translation -
The eight foreign humanitarians will appear Saturday in Kabul
Saturday September 08 2001 - 6h46 GMT
KABUL, 8 seven (AFP) - the eight shown foreign humane workers propagation of Christianity in Afghanistan will appear before the supreme court Saturday in Kabul, announced a spokesman of the court.
" the prisoners will arrive in a few minutes and the journalists will be authorized with being present at the court ", said the spokesman, Maulvi Mir Habib Agha, in front of the journalists present at the accesses of the court.
It will be the first appearance of shown in front of the court and their first public appearance since their arrest, with sixteen their Afghan colleagues, between the 3 and August 5 the last.
The " first phase " of the lawsuit of the four Germans, two American and two Australian of Shelter Now International had started at door-closed Tuesday, without the defendants not being convened, nor informed of the loads which weigh against them.
The foreign diplomats come to lend assistance to them had not been informed either of the procedure in progress and which seems to have consisted, for the first phase, in discussions between the nine judges of the court and the scholars of Islam.
According to the strict observance of the precepts of the taliban to the capacity in this Islamic country, the eight foreigners could be condemned to hanging to have tried to convert Moslems or to have made them give up Islam.
Their sixteen Afghan colleagues should be the subject of a separate procedure.
Shelter Now International, whose activities for summer have prohibited on the whole of the Afghan territory, was specialized in the rebuilding of residences destroyed by the war and the distribution of food aid at the sides of the World Food Program of the United Nations.
Saturday September 8, 2:50 PM
Afghan Taliban say to produce detainees in court
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said eight detained foreign aid workers accused of promoting Christianity would be produced in the court on Saturday, the first time since the trial began five days ago.
"The detainees will come here (court) after a few minutes," Mir Habib Agha, legal adviser to the hardline Taliban's Supreme court told Reuters.
"The trial will be open and journalists would also be allowed to witness the proceedings," Agha added.
The trial resumed on Saturday after a day's break because of the Muslim day of prayer in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Twenty-four staff from German-based Christian relief agency Shelter Now International -- four Germans, two Australians, two Americans and 16 Afghans -- were arrested five weeks ago on charges that could carry the death penalty.
Eight foreign workers to appear before Taliban's Supreme Court
By KATHY GANNON
Associated Press Writer
September 8, 2001KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Less than one week into their trial on charges of preaching Christianity in this devoutly Muslim nation, eight foreign aid workers were to appear later Saturday before the Taliban's Supreme Court to plead their case, said Maulvi Mir Habib Agha, a court adviser.
The aid workers - two Americans, four Germans and two Australians - were arrested in the first week of August and their Christian-based organization, Shelter Now International, was shut down. Sixteen Afghan employees were also arrested, but they are to be tried separately.
Since last Tuesday, the Supreme Court Chief Justice Noor Mohmmed Saqib and 14 other judges have been sifting through boxes of evidence, including Christian literature translated into local languages. The Taliban's religious police say they confiscated the materials from Shelter Now offices in Afghanistan's beleaguered capital.
Saqib has refused to say what punishment could be imposed against the foreign workers, saying it is "premature." The Taliban punishment for an Afghan Muslim who either converts or preaches another religion is death.
It's not clear how long the trial will last, but there are some indications that it could move quickly.
The families of the two American women, Dayna Curry, 29, and Heather Mercer, 24, have been in Kabul for nearly two weeks and have seen their children three times. It is believed that Curry's mother, Nancy Cassell, of Thompson's Station, Tennessee, and Mercer's father, John Mercer, of Vienna Virginia, will be allowed to attend.
Three Western diplomats from the United States, Germany and Australia also are expected to be allowed inside the courtroom.
In the past two weeks the Taliban have shut down two other aid organizations accused of preaching Christianity, expelling their foreign workers.
On Friday, the Muslim Sabbath, Saqib warned hundreds of the faithful in Kabul's largest Mosque to beware of foreigners, saying they were using charity to entice Muslims to Christianity.
Copyright 2001 Associated Press, All rights reserved
Saturday, September 8 3:30 PM SGT
Foreigners appear in Afghan court
KABUL, Sept 8 (AFP) -
Eight foreign aid workers on trial in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan for allegedly preaching Christianity appeared in court for the first time Saturday, an AFP reporter said.
The two Americans, two Australians and four Germans were brought through the gate of the Supreme Court building in a bus led by a Taliban pickup carrying several heavily armed soldiers.
They were then led into the courtroom where Chief Justice Mawlawi Noor Mohammad Saqib and senior Islamic scholars have been holding the trial behind closed doors since Tuesday.
It was the first time the eight had been seen in public since their arrest early last month.
One of the six female defendants was wearing the head-to-toe cloak which is mandatory for Afghan women in public, while the others had veils over their hair only.
Reporters said they looked exhausted and walked slowly into the court under the escort of armed guards, who did not allow them to answer questions from journalists waiting outside the court.
The mother of one of the US prisoners and the father of another accompanied their daughters into the court but the cousin of the Australian man was kept waiting outside along with Australian, German and US diplomats.
Eight foreign workers to appear before Taliban's Supreme Court
By KATHY GANNON
Associated Press Writer
September 8, 2001KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Less than one week into their trial on charges of preaching Christianity in this devoutly Muslim nation, eight foreign aid workers arrived Saturday at the Taliban's Supreme Court to plead their case.
The aid workers - two Americans, four Germans and two Australians - arrived in a white van accompanied by a truckload of Taliban soldiers with Kalishnakov rifles. Six of the eight aid workers are women, all of whom were covered in giant black shawls.
The aid workers were arrested in the first week of August and their Christian-based organization, Shelter Now International, was shut down. Sixteen Afghan employees were also arrested, but they are to be tried separately.
Since last Tuesday, the Supreme Court Chief Justice Noor Mohmmed Saqib and 14 other judges have been sifting through boxes of evidence, including Christian literature translated into local languages. The Taliban's religious police say they confiscated the materials from Shelter Now offices in Afghanistan's beleaguered capital.
Saqib has refused to say what punishment could be imposed against the foreign workers, saying to do so would be "premature." The Taliban punishment for an Afghan Muslim who either converts to or preaches another religion is death.
It's not clear how long the trial will last, but there were some indications that it could move quickly.
The families of the two American women, Dayna Curry, 29, and Heather Mercer, 24, have been in Kabul for nearly two weeks and have seen their children three times.
Curry's mother, Nancy Cassell, of Thompson's Station, Tennessee, and Mercer's father, John Mercer, of Vienna Virginia, were united with their children at the Supreme Court.
Cassells was also wearing a large black shawl, her taught and worried face barely visible. John Mercer, Heather's father, held his arms around Cassells to help her through crush of journalists into a room in the courthouse where their daughters were being held.
"Please leave me alone," Dayna said, when asked whether she was afraid.
Three Western diplomats from the United States, Germany and Australia also arrived with the aid workers.
In the past two weeks the Taliban have shut down two other aid organizations accused of preaching Christianity, expelling their foreign workers.
On Friday, the Muslim Sabbath, Saqib warned hundreds of the faithful in Kabul's largest Mosque to beware of foreigners, saying they were using charity to entice Muslims to Christianity.
Copyright 2001 Associated Press, All rights reserved
Saturday September 8, 3:20 PM
Eight Christian detainees arrive at Taliban court
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan's ruling Taliban on Saturday brought eight foreign aid workers accused of promoting Christianity to court for the first time, a Reuters reporter said.
"They just entered into the court building... before their arrival, diplomats and their relatives also reached the court room to witness the proceedings," the reporter said.
He said security surrounding the detainees was tight.
The trial began its fourth day on Saturday after a day's break because of the Muslim day of prayer in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Twenty-four staff from German-based Christian relief agency Shelter Now International -- four Germans, two Australians, two Americans and 16 Afghans -- were arrested five weeks ago on charges that could carry the death penalty.
Not very Christian I guess...
Meanwhile the U.N. is busy condemning Israel and the U.S.
We live in crazy times. I can only hope the U.S. government takes notice and applies a "little" pressure… Where's Amnesty International??? Oh ya, their Christians…
Foreign aid workers have their first day in court
By KATHY GANNON
Associated Press Writer
September 8, 2001KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Smiling bravely, 29-year-old Dayna Curry mouthed the words "I love you" to her mother as she was escorted from the stark office of the Taliban's chief justice, where she and seven other aid workers appeared Saturday on allegations they preached Christianity in this deeply devout Muslim nation.
Heather Mercer, the only other American woman and at 24 years old, the youngest of the eight aid workers, clutched her father's hand throughout the proceedings. Her hand reached behind to find her father's. For one hour they comforted each other.
Occasionally she fiddled with the giant blue shawl that covered her head.
The aid workers arrived at the muddy brown colored Supreme Court in a van accompanied by a pickup truck packed with turbaned Taliban soldiers, armed with kalashnikov rifles.
It was their first appearance in public since their arrest in early August.
The six women wore giant shawls that covered their heads and shoulders. They were accompanied by an Afghan woman, encased in the billowing burqa that covered her from head to toe.
The hour-long proceeding took place in the office of the Supreme Court Chief Justice Noor Mohammed Saqib. The walls were adorned with swords, verses of the Islamic holy book the Quran, a calender depicting a U.S. missile attack on Afghanistan and a leather strap used for public floggings.
Seated on chairs lined up in front of Saqib's wooden desk -- piled high with books, files and the white flag of the Taliban rulers -- the aid workers were first asked to identify themselves by nationality.
First the American women stood. Mercer gave his daughter a gentle nudge to stand. Then the Australians raised their hands and the Germans.
They filled out forms they didn't understand, written in Persian. They whispered among themselves and finally asked a Taliban translator for assistance. The forms simply identified them by name, father's name, birthplace and education.
For an hour Saqib tried to explain the legal process they faced.
But in the end it wasn't clear whether they, their family or the three Western diplomats in Afghanistan to ensure they get a fair trial, understood the legal process ahead of them, or how long it will take.
They aid workers complained about their isolation, lack of information.
"Why are we being treated like criminals? Relatives have come all the way from America and Australia and they have been given barely five minutes to talk to their relatives. We have seen the diplomats only once since they arrived," said George Taubmann, one of the German aid workers being detained.
"We have had no communication. A lot of us don't even know why we are in prison," he said. "We have heard we were accused of all these things. It is simply not true. We have not converted anybody. We are shocked about all the accusations. We have not had a chance to defend ourselves."
The foreign workers were arrested at the beginning of August and their humanitarian aid organization, Shelter Now International, a German based Christian group shut down. Also arrested were 16 Afghan employees. It's not known when their trial will begin.
Saqib, speaking through an interpreter, tried to explain the legal process.
He said the first phase of the legal process, which he described at the time as the "trial," had begun last Tuesday. That process, which is continuing, involves the examination of the evidence by the Supreme Court, which includes himself and at least 14 other judges. The number of judges and Islamic clerics could vary.
The second phase will begin when the aid workers decide whether they want a lawyer or whether they will choose to defend themselves. It's believed that phase will be open and it could begin as soon as the accused decide on legal representation.
The final deliberations to decide innocence or guilt, it seems will be done by an expanded body that will include eminent judges and Islamic clerics. It's not known how large that body will be.
However, the final decision and punishment rests with the Taliban's reclusive leader Mullah Mohammed Omar.
At the end of the explanation Taubmann was still not convinced.
"I'm still not satisfied. Where are we" in the legal process? Taubmann asked of reporters as he and his fellow aid workers left accompanied by armed Taliban guards.
Western diplomats from the United States, Germany and Australia pleaded for greater access to their nationals.
"I honestly beg you to give us greater consular access so they can be sure they know their legal rights and can defend themselves," said Helmut Landes, consular officer at the German Embassy in Pakistan.
Copyright 2001 Associated Press, All rights reserved
Saturday, 8 September 2001 10:23 (ET)
Aid workers deny court charges
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Eight foreign aid workers on trial denied Saturday charges of promoting Christianity in the fundamentalist Islamic country.
The defendants, two Americans, four Germans and two Australians, were brought before the Taliban's highest court for the first time since their trial began almost a week ago.
"We have never converted anybody," Georg Taubmann, director of the German-based Christian relief agency Shelter Now International, told the court. "We are shocked with the accusations."
The chief justice of the court told the defendants they were entitled to hire attorneys or represent themselves.
Sixteen Afghan employees of the group were also arrested, and will be tried in a separate case.
Under Taliban law, the penalty for foreigners found guilty of preaching Christianity is three to 10 days in jail and expulsion. The penalty for an Afghan who converts to Christianity is death.
Copyright 2001 by United Press International. All rights reserved.
Christian Prisoners Plead Innocence in Taliban Court
September 08, 2001 06:36 AM ET
By Tahir Ikram
KABUL (Reuters) - Eight foreign aid workers on trial for promoting Christianity in Islamic Afghanistan appeared for the first time Saturday in the ruling Taliban's Supreme Court, saying they were innocent of proselytizing.
The hearing, now in its fourth day, was presided over by Chief Justice Noor Mohammad Saqib and 18 bearded, white-turbaned judges.
"During the investigation we were accused of many things but that was not true," Georg Taubmann, Afghanistan director for German-based Christian relief agency Shelter Now International (SNI), told the court.
"We have never converted anybody. We are shocked with the accusations," he added.
Saturday marked the first time any of the detained foreigners -- four Germans, two Australians and two Americans -- had been seen or spoken in public since their arrest five weeks ago. Six are women and two men.
Twenty-four SNI staff -- the eight foreigners and 16 Afghans -- were held on charges that could carry the death penalty.
The detainees, who appeared healthy, have been identified as Taubmann, Katrin Jelinek, Margrit Stebner and Silke Durrkopf, who are all German; Australians Peter Bunch and Diana Thomas; plus Americans Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer.
Islamabad-based diplomats from Germany, Australia and the United States, plus three relatives of the detainees and international media were allowed to attend the trial on Saturday.
Earlier the detainees arrived at court in a van accompanied by a pick-up truck carrying armed guards from the Taliban's ministry for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, or religious police.
However, security was less tight when they were taken away again a couple of hours later.
FAIR TRIAL
Chief Justice Saqib reassured the accused, who all appeared healthy, that the trial would be fair and they were entitled to hire lawyers or defend themselves, as they wished.
"We once again want to assure the detainees that the proceedings will be strictly in accordance with justice...and on the basis of Islamic Sharia (law)," said Saqib, who was sitting with two swords hanging on the wall behind him.
"We also assure the accused that they should not fear that because we are Muslims so they will be punished," he added.
The small courtroom was hot and stuffy as around 70 people -- judges, Taliban guards, diplomats, relatives and the accused -- crowded in.
But the atmosphere was relaxed with detainees and diplomats free to speak as and when they wished, with all comments translated by an official Taliban interpreter.
The foreign women each covered themselves in long shawls in accordance with the Taliban's strict dress code for women, while the two men wore traditional long shirts over loose baggy trousers.
The diplomats requested further consular access to their nationals, while some detainees said they were unsure what the accusations were. Saqib replied that was why the court hearing had been called. He said the initial phase of the investigation was coming to an end.
"When this initial phase is over it will be followed by a second phase in which a grand assembly of ulema (Muslim scholars) will be called," he said.
The Taliban say Mullah Mohammad Omar, the movement's supreme leader, has the final say on punishment.
It was unclear whether the detainees would be produced again Sunday when the court next sits, and whether the 16 Afghans, who are expected to be tried separately, would be called to give evidence.
The diplomats said while the day's proceedings had helped, the legal process remained clouded with uncertainty.
"It looks like it's going to go on for some time, especially since they have given us the option to select legal representation," said Australian diplomat Alistair Adams.
Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil said on Thursday a decree offering lenient treatment to foreigners accused of spreading Christianity did not apply in this case.
The Taliban, who espouse a purist form of Islam, have been internationally condemned for rights abuses -- especially against women -- and the destruction of pre-Islamic heritage.
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