Scope of Taliban Probe Worries U.S.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - With two Americans in jail in Afghanistan on charges of preaching Christianity, the United States said Monday it is worried about the growing scope of an investigation by the hard-line Taliban into charges of proselytizing by foreign aid workers.
Mohammed Wali, the Taliban's minister for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, issued a notice to all aid organizations suspected of teaching Christianity that their aid projects will be scrutinized by three Taliban ministries - security, vice and virtue, and intelligence. Among those notified was the United Nations.
``We are a little surprised at the breadth,'' said John Kincannon, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan.
One week ago the Taliban arrested 24 workers of Shelter Now International, including two Americans, four Germans and two Australians. The eight foreign aid workers were charged with proselytizing.
Afghan visas for diplomats from Australia, Germany and the United States were approved on Monday. Foreign Minister Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil told reporters that diplomats will be allowed to meet Taliban officials in Kabul, but not the imprisoned aid workers.
``This is what we have been told, but we will go anyway,'' said Howard Brown, the Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan.
It's still not decided when the diplomats will travel to Kabul, or who will represent each country.
``We will continue to press vigorously for consular access to the two Americans,'' Kincannon said.
It also isn't clear what charges are to be laid against the 16 Afghan staff of the aid organization, which is run by the German-based Christian charity Vision for Asia. So far no one has been allowed to visit the detained aid workers.
Muttawakil also said organizations like the U.N. World Food Program will be questioned about their knowledge of Shelter Now International activities.
Muttawakil said the WFP gave food to Shelter Now International for distribution knowing that the group was a Christian missionary organization making them a party to their preaching.
The WFP flatly denied any involvement in religious education.
``The WFP has no religious intentions whatsoever,'' Francis Mwanza, a spokesman at its Rome headquarters, said Sunday.
The evidence, which was seized from the office of Shelter Now International, included compact discs, cassettes and literature - all containing stories about Christianity, the coming of Jesus Christ and all translated into local languages.
Originally published August 13, 2001.
