Aid workers trial delayed indefinitely by Taliban
The Taliban Supreme Court has indefinitely postponed the trial of eight international aid workers, fearing that the court’s anger over the US bombing would prevent them from making a fair ruling.
Two American women, two Australians and four Germans, are accused of spreading Christianity in the Muslim country.
Justice Maulvi Mir Habibullah said members of the Supreme Court were concerned the US air assault on Afghanistan would taint their judgment.
‘‘The bombardment and the court case are two separate things. We do not want one to involve the other,’’ Habibullah said.
‘‘What is happening between America and the Taliban has nothing to do with the court case against the detainees. We will not allow the two to be linked,’’ he said.
The eight employees of the German based Shelter Now International have been in jail since early August.
‘‘If in this situation with the bombardment, the judges, who are deciding this case, could become angry and make a decision that is not good, not based on Shariat (Islamic law), but make a decision because they are angry,’’ Habibullah said.
‘‘God says that is wrong that you cannot take revenge and that you must be in a relaxed state of mind to make important decisions.’’
Habibullah said the aid workers were being well cared for.
He said the Supreme Court issued orders to the guards at the Kabul detention centre to treat the aid workers kindly.
‘‘We have told them that they are human beings and should be treated with goodness,’’ he said. ‘‘They are separate from this new war we are facing. They should not be blamed for it.’’
The case is an important one, he said, and it is not known when it will resume.
