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Foreign Aid Workers Appear in Afghan Court
A Supreme Court chief justice told eight foreign aid workers Sunday that they would be treated fairly, and that the threat of a U.S. military assault would not play a part in their trial on charges of preaching Christianity.
The trial resumed Sunday after a three-week suspension following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and fears of American retaliatory strikes. Afghanistan has protected the main suspect in the attacks, Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden.
Eight employees of the German-based Christian group Shelter Now International appeared before Supreme Court Chief Justice Noor Mohammed Saqib, who told them they would be treated according to Islamic justice.
One of the defendants, German Silke Duerrkopf, at first didn't show up to Sunday's proceedings because she said she felt ill. But the court sent for her at a Kabul detention center, saying her presence was necessary. She later arrived, looking pale.
The chief investigator, Mohammed Umer Hanif, read the charges aloud and recited a list of items that had been seized from the aid workers' offices, including what he said were cassettes and reading material related to Christianity.
The court asked the detainees if they wanted Pakistani lawyer Atif Ali Khan to defend them, and the detainees said they approved.
Khan was given between three and 15 days to prepare his case, and Saqib assured the defendants that they would be given access to their lawyer.
The four Germans, two Americans and two Australians have been accused of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. They have denied the allegation.
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