Shelter Now spokesman on return of aid workers held in A'stan

Описание: (18 Nov 2001)

Frankfurt - November 18, 2001
1. Various set up shots of airport
2. Wide of presser
3. SOUNDBITE: (German): Thomas Matussek, German Foreign Ministry:
"We are happy the Shelter Now workers are back. They've done and extraordinary job in Afghanistan considering the circumstances. They've done a job that no other organisation could have done. Concerning the accusations, the reason they were arrested was that the Taliban dictatorship, which ignores human rights, was jealous that an organisation like Shelter Now could do things (to help the people of Afghanistan) that the Taliban couldn't do."
4. Cut to Press
5. SOUNDBITE: (German): Uddo Stolte, Head of Shelter Now Germany:
"Our people were just thrown into political and military things. It could have happened to any other organisation. I've got the papers in which the prosecution's case is stated and I've seen the evidence. It is laughable. It wouldn't go at any proper court. It is clear that this was about kidnapping and not really a fair court case."
6. Various exterior shots of airport

Islamabad, Pakistan - File - November 15, 2001
6. Cars arrive at German Embassy
10. The German aid workers, two women and one man get out of cars and hug people waiting for them
9. Photo op of released German hostages

STORYLINE:

Four German aid workers who were held by Afghanistan's Taliban militia for three months on charges of preaching Christianity arrived back in Germany on Sunday.

The workers - who had been held along with two Americans and two Australians in Afghanistan - were kept well away from media as they arrived at Frankfurt Airport early Sunday afternoon.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that they arrived and were met by a ministry representative but declined to comment on their final destination.

The aid workers for Shelter Now International, a German-based group, were whisked to safety in Pakistan by U.S. helicopters Thursday after Afghan fighters freed them from Taliban captivity.

They had been accused by the Taliban of preaching Christianity, a serious offense under the Taliban's harsh Islamic rule.

The two Americans, Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer, were arrested first Aug. 3, accused of visiting Afghan homes to distribute Christian literature and to show CD-ROMs on the life of Jesus.

Two days later, police raided the Shelter Now offices and, after seizing what they said was Christian propaganda, arrested the other six.

Besides the Americans, the group included the four Germans, Georg Taubmann, Margrit Stebnar, Kati Jelinek and Silke Duerrkopf, and Australians Diana Thomas and Peter Bunch.

Thomas Matussek, German Foreign Ministry, had said the American and Australian aid workers had left Pakistan, but it was unclear where they were traveling to.

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