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Taliban Court Resumes Trial Without Defendants and Press
KABUL, Sept 9 (News Agencies) - The Supreme Court on Sunday resumed the trial of eight foreign aid workers held for allegedly preaching Christianity in Afghanistan but no defendants, diplomats or journalists were present, officials said.
"We have asked the detainees whether they want to defend themselves or engage lawyers," a court official told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
"We are meanwhile scrutinizing the files of the case submitted to the court by the investigators."
He said the court would summon the accused when it considers it necessary.
The two Americans, two Australians and four Germans appeared in court on Saturday for the first time since their arrest in early August on charges which may carry a maximum penalty of death.
In their first public appearance, most of the defendants denied they had been trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity.
Officials did not allow diplomats, journalists and relatives of the detainees to monitor Sunday's proceedings, and witnesses said security around the court was reinforced.
Taliban authorities earlier briefly barred foreign journalists and photographers from leaving their hotel after some reporters took pictures of the detainees when they arrived in the court.
The restriction on some 30 journalists staying at Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel was lifted after about two hours, and sources said the authorities also released their official Afghan interpreters who were detained for "not preventing" them from taking pictures, which the Taliban considers "un-Islamic".
Taliban Foreign Ministry officials said the translators were not arrested, adding, "they were busy in a seminar."
In their first court appearance on Saturday, the defendants from the German-based Shelter Now group expressed shock over the allegations that they were trying to convert Afghans to Christianity.
"We have had no chance to defend ourselves. We are shocked about all the allegations. I have been interrogated about things I have not done," German aid worker George Taubmann told the court.
Chief Justice Mawlawi Noor Mohammad Saqib, who is handling the case along with some 15 religious scholars, told the accused the trial would be just and merciful.
"The verdict will be very fair and just. Clemency has a special place in Islam and we will be as merciful as we can," Saqib said Saturday.
Pakistan-based diplomats representing the aid workers and parents of two American detainees at an hour-long meeting with Taliban foreign ministry official Abdul Rahman Hotak Sunday renewed their demand for regular access to the prisoners.
"We are waiting for a response - as always they are very willing to help us," Australian Consul Alastar Adams said.
The diplomats have said they were anxious to arrange legal counsel for the detainees, being held at a secret location in Kabul.
Taliban officials say they have written confessions from several of the accused.
The eventual verdict will be presented to reclusive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar for a final decision.
Taliban authorities have also arrested 16 Afghan colleagues of the detained foreigners and they are expected to face separate legal proceedings.
On Sunday, a foreign aid worker said Taliban police last week arrested around 15 to 17 Afghan staff of a Christian aid group, International Assistance Mission (AIM), closed by the militia last month.
"I do not know the reason for their arrest but they were taken into custody during the first week of September and have not been seen since then," she told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The ruling militia sealed the offices of AIM and another Christian aid group, Serve, on August 31st and ordered their expatriate staff to leave the country in 72 hours.
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