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From http://www.dallasnews.com/attack_on_america/stories2/476370_baylor_21tex.A.html Jailed Baylor grads' attorney trying to see them Lawyer has visa to enter Afghanistan, but fleeing refugees clog path 09/21/2001 By LAURA HEINAUER / The Dallas Morning News The Pakistani lawyer for the two Baylor graduates jailed by the Taliban government has obtained a visa to return to Afghanistan, but the visit is hindered by the exodus of refugees leaving that nation in fear of an American military strike, U.S. State Department officials said Thursday. Dayna Curry, 29 and Heather Mercer, 24, who were both on trial early this month on charges of preaching Christianity in fundamentally Islamic Afghanistan, have not been in touch with family members or U.S. officials since Sept. 12 – a day after terrorists demolished the World Trade Center in New York and severely damaged the Pentagon in Washington. Authorities suspect billionaire Osama bin Laden, a guest in Afghanistan, as the mastermind behind the attacks, setting the stage for possible U.S. reprisal. State Department officials say that they have confirmation that the women were doing fine as of Tuesday but that their trial now seems to have been halted for reasons that remain unclear. "There's no information coming to us on the progress of the trial," a State Department official said, noting that some judicial officials have been involved in discussion of whether to turn over Mr. bin Laden to U.S. officials. "It's could be that the justices presiding over the case have been involved in the conference of clerics, and it's also possible that the trial has been put on hold because their [the two women's] lawyer hasn't been there to represent them. Either case, ... [the trial] doesn't seem to be ongoing at this time," he said. Since Sunday all aid workers have been ordered out of the country. Ms. Curry's and Ms. Mercer's family members and U.S. consular officials moved to Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The women's lawyer, who is from Pakistan but speaks Pushtu and is versed in Islamic law, is reportedly worried about his ability to drive in and out of Afghanistan's clogged roads during daylight hours. "You can't drive into Kabul to do business and not spend the night," the State Department official said. "And spending the night in Afghanistan right now is not something a lot of people want to do." Ms. Mercer and Ms. Curry are Baylor graduates from the classes of 1999 and 1993, respectively. They, along with six other foreign members of Shelter Now International, a German-based Christian group, are believed the only foreign aid workers remaining in Afghanistan. Under Taliban law, foreigners caught proselytizing face a jail sentence and expulsion from the country, while Afghan Muslims who convert to another religion or preach it face a penalty of death. At the Antioch Community Church in Waco, senior pastor Jimmy Seibert said attendance at a 24-hour prayer vigil has picked up in the last several days. A room in the church has been turned into a special prayer room for Ms. Curry and Ms. Mercer, complete with maps, pictures and news articles about the girls. "It's not uncommon for five to six people to be there at three o'clock in the morning now," Mr. Seibert said.
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| Heather Mercer | Dayna Curry | |
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OTHER ARTICLES about Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry and the others: The Houston Chronicle 9/19/01: Church prays for a miracle. Two aid workers held by Afghans. The Lariat (Baylor U.) 09/18/2001: Captive Baylor U. alumni 'fine,' officials say USA Today 9/17/01: U.N. workers leave Afghanistan after U.S. attack LA Times 9/16/01: Strike Could Jeopardize Return of Hostages Washington Post 9/15/01: Attacks Complicate Case Of Woman Held by Taliban
Lawyer trying to see Afghan detained aid workers [ Release Our Women! ] Antioch pastor waits in Pakistan for release of women from Afghanistan Waco pastor fears for safety of ex-BU students held in Afghanistan Taliban May Sentence Christians To Death Heather Mercer & Dayna Curry left behind in Afghanistan |
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Even CNN is now gone. Even the Afghan people are fleeing. They have practically no one left...but Jesus will never leave them. Do not forget them yourself. Pray for the lawyers and those helping them also.
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