World News 09-08-2001 Afghanistan: Christians Face Death Penalty who: Taliban what: Say they have evidence that foreign aid workers have been promoting Christianity where: Afghanistan when: Yesterday snippet: "Afghanistan`s ruling Taleban say they have recovered thousands of Christian video and audio tapes, and bibles translated into local languages, from 24 aid workers being held on charges of promoting Christianity," reports the BBC. As a team of western diplomats rallies round, the foreign aid workers - four Germans, two Americans and two Australians from the charity Shelter Now International - are unlikely to face the death penalty, but the 16 Afghan staff arrested with them on Sunday may not be so lucky. "Shelter Now International is part of a Germany-based Christian humanitarian group called Vision for Asia," reports The Independent. "A spokesman for the group confirmed Wednesday that the workers had Bibles or other Christian literature, as the Taliban have charged, but insisted the materials were only for personal use." Meanwhile, yesterday the Taliban "staged a gruesome public execution of four men they accused of taking part in a bomb plot," reports The Guardian. "They were then strung up on cranes and a traffic tower in front of a huge crowd." [... more]

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