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Verdict expected in Shelter Now case
"The verdict should come any time now and I am very confident that it will be an acquittal," says Atif Ali Khan, the 26-year-old Pakistani lawyer representing the eight foreign aid workers accused by the Taliban of promoting Christianity. He returned to Kabul Saturday. Tilden Curry, the father of one of the Americans being held, is hopeful, but less optimistic. "It looks like the trial is coming to an end, and I am hopeful it won't be too harsh a sentence," he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. However, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has some fascinating details about the trial that should cause worry. For example, Chief Justice Noor Mohammed Saqib has already said that the trial will end in sentencing.

Weblog rarely includes original reporting (that's the beauty of a Weblog), but CT did hear from Deborah Oddy, the mother of Heather Mercer, on what we should call the prisoners. "It doesn't matter if we call the eight aid workers guests, detainees, prisoners, or hostages," she said.

It's just a word. The prisoners (as I have called them from the beginning) are there against their will. Putting a pretty label on them such as guest or detainee does not change their situation. I was not encouraged nor discouraged by the President's use of hostage. However, I was encouraged that he once again mentioned them as one of the conditions which the Taliban must meet. It's reassuring to know that they are on his radar.

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October (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45