Military

DATE=11/16/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-283226

TITLE= AFGHAN CHRISTIANS (L)

BYLINE=JIM TEEPLE

DATELINE= ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Two American women who are Christian aid workers say their escape from

Afghanistan was a miracle after three months of detention in Taleban jails.

V-O-A's Jim Teeple reports from Islamabad the two say they were well treated

by their Taleban captors but there were many times they feared for their

lives.

TEXT: Dana Curry and Heather Mercer who work for the Christian-based aid

group Shelter Now say they had nearly given up hope early Tuesday after

being moved from Kabul to the town of Ghazni by their Taleban captors.

Fearing an imminent move to the Taleban stronghold of Kandahar, the women

and their six colleagues say they were amazed when Taleban control collapsed

in Ghazni. Heather Mercer says the experience is one she will never forget.

/// MERCER ACT ///

That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. To come into a country and

be taken captive by one government and then to walk out of prison a free

person under a new government -- to see a city changed in just a moment.

The women had taken off their burqaa's (veils) All of the villagers were

out in the streets cheering. To see people out in the streets, playing

music, shooting off their guns with great rejoicing. I really believe a

good day will come for Afghanistan, and it really was a precious time to be

a part of that.

// END ACT //

Heather Mercer, Dana Curry and six other foreigners who work for Shelter Now

were detained in early August by the Taleban and accused of trying to

convert Afghans to Christianity - a serious crime under Taleban law.

Sixteen Afghans who work for Shelter Now were also detained. The

Afghan detainees were freed after Northern Alliance forces took control of

Kabul. Asked about the charges Friday both the women said 80-percent of

the charges against them were false. Dana Curry says she believes the 20

percent that were true were relatively minor offenses.

/// CURRY ACT ///

That we had been in an Afghan home and that I'd given a book to someone that

was in both Farsi and in English and to them. I made a copy of it, and the

little boy asked for it and I could not give it away because I used it for

language learning. But I made a copy of it and gave it to them, and this had

a story about Jesus in it. Also we had showed them part of the Jesus film

and that was also true.

/// END ACT ///

Following what they describe as their "miraculous" escape from the Ghazni

jail, the eight Shelter Now workers were put under the protection of a local

commander who contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross. Late

Wednesday the eight were moved to a field outside Ghazni where they burned

some of their clothes to guide U-S Special Forces to where they were standing.

Just a few hours later they were reunited with their families in Pakistan.

/// REST OPT ///

Both women say despite the hardships they endured over the last three months

they will value the experience for the rest of their lives. Heather Mercer

says she considers herself lucky.

/// MERCER ACT ///

The last three and a half months have probably been the greatest terror of

my live but it has also been the greatest privilege of my life. And I would

never trade it for the world, because I know coming out not only am I

changed but a nation is changed.

/// END ACT ///

Both Heather Mercer and Dana Curry say they want to continue working with

Afghans - especially Afghan women. They say they look forward to making

sure that young girls who used to come to them - begging to be taught how to

read -- but forbidden to do so by the Taleban -- will now get the chance to

learn how to read. (Signed)

NEB/JLT/RH