ISLAMABAD (AP) — An Afghanistan-based nonprofit stated Saturday it’s working with the United Nations and others to shortly launch 18 workers, together with a foreigner, held by the Taliban.
The Worldwide Help Mission stated that the eighteen folks had been arrested on two separate events this month from its workplace within the central province of Ghor and transferred to the capital, Kabul.
Native media reported that an American citizen was amongst these arrested and that the staff had been arrested for preaching Christianity. The non-profit group stated it doesn’t but have details about the character of those allegations.
“IAM has written to the Ministry of Economic system, the place we’re legally registered as a world NGO, relating to these extraordinarily worrying developments,” the non-profit stated. “We’re additionally working with the United Nations and the NGO Coordination Physique in Afghanistan, to deepen our understanding of the scenario and work to shortly launch our 18 colleagues.”
The mission stated that it values and respects the customs and cultures of Afghanistan, and is dedicated to the precept of not utilizing help to advertise a “specific political or non secular viewpoint.” It stated that every one its workers comply with abide by the legal guidelines of the nation.
Afghan officers couldn’t instantly be reached to touch upon the arrests.
The nonprofit stated two Afghan nationals and a member of the worldwide crew had been taken from its workplace in Ghor on September 3. One other 15 Afghan nationwide employees had been additionally taken from the identical workplace on 13 September.
NGOs have come underneath larger scrutiny because the Taliban took management of the nation two years in the past. They’ve taken harsh measures, together with banning Afghan girls from schooling past the sixth grade and banning them from public life and work, together with jobs in NGOs.
A US watchdog reported earlier this yr that the Taliban was harassing non-governmental organizations working within the nation.