(RNS/ENInews) The International Assistance Mission has rejected Taliban claims that 10 staffers from the Christian aid agency who were killed in Afghanistan had been trying to convert Muslims.
“Our faith motivates and inspires us, but we do not proselytize. We abide by the laws of Afghanistan,” Dirk R. Frans, IAM’s executive secretary, said in a statement at a Monday (Aug. 9) press conference in Kabul.
The 10 workers — six Americans, a Briton, a German and two local Afghan staff — were killed on Aug. 5 as they returned from a trek through the Hindu Kush mountains, where they had been providing eye care to poor and remote communities, Frans said.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the workers had been spying and trying to convert Muslims.
Frans, however, said his group had been present in Afghanistan since
1966 and abided by the laws of the country, and had pledged that its aid would never be used to advance a particular political or religious standpoint.
“IAM would not be invited back to villages if we were using aid as a cover for preaching,” said Frans.
Among the slain aid workers was Dr. Tom Little, an ophthalmologist from Delmar, N.Y., who led the team of nurses, doctors and logistics personnel murdered in the attack. He had been based in Afghanistan since 1986.
As a senior member of IAM working with the Noor Eye Institute, Little had trained former Afghan foreign minister and presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah.
Abdullah described the IAM team as dedicated people and called the attackers “enemies of the Afghan people,” according to the BBC.
Bangalore-based development consultant David Selvaraj, who has visited Afghanistan twice, told ENInews the killings point to “the high cost” of working in difficult situations.
“Due to 30 years of war against external forces in Afghanistan, there is so much suspicion against outsiders,” said Selvaraj, who belongs to the Church of South India.
– Anto Akkara
Copyright 2010 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted August 9, 2010 at 7:25 pm
The killings of those wonderful doctors was so senseless and horrible. My heart goes out to their families. They were truly examples of what Christianity is all about.
posted August 10, 2010 at 2:51 pm
The word “Taliban” has become synonomous for “unthinking hatred”. In the face of that, it is impossible to minister. However, that does not necessarily mean we should retreat. However, it also means that allowing – or enabling – people to place their lives in the maw of this monster is foolish. People of Faith are not supposed to be people without sense! Certainly thre are people who need this sort of aid that are not in the claws of the Taliban. Ministe there in the hopes of working elsewhere later
posted August 10, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Evil grows when good people do nothing, I come from a neighborhood that good people did nothing and evil grew and took over.
posted August 10, 2010 at 9:42 pm
These were brave people and those who stay are brave and, it appears, useful people.
I envy them their courage.
posted August 11, 2010 at 11:27 am
ck & nnmns
I agree that doing nothing is not a good strategy. But putting people who cannot defend themselves in the path and lair of the Taliban is inviting disaster – again. There must be other places, even in Afghanistan, where their ministry and care would be significant and appreciated. Otherwise they are simply waving a red flag, wearing a target, and inviting heinous acts perpetrated by people who have no motive but violence, no god but a gun, and no thought about humanity.
posted August 11, 2010 at 8:36 pm
jest, the price of confronting evil has never come cheap