Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said Saturday it was willing to release eight foreign aid workers on trial for preaching Christianity, provided that the United States withdrew its threat of military strikes.
Taliban Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Mutawakel was quoted by CNN as saying in a statement that the aid workers would be released "if the United States stops its mass propaganda of military action."
The foreign aid workers, two Americans, two Australians and four Germans, were arrested in early August along with 16 Afghans. The workers are charged with trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.
The detained workers are Germans Georg Taubmann, Margrit Stebnar, Kati Jelinek and Silke Duerrkopf, Australians Peter Bunch and Diana Thomas, and Americans Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry.
During their last court appearance in Kabul a week ago, the Taliban promised the alleged missionaries would receive a fair trial, despite the threat of US military action against Afghanistan, where the militia is harboring terror suspect Osama bin Laden.
Under the Taliban's radical brand of "Islamic" law, the maximum penalty for trying to convert Afghan Muslims to another faith is death. The militia has refused to explain the exact charges against the aid workers - Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
