Prayer Alert: Group of 23 South Korean Christians Kidnapped at Gunpoint by Taliban—Deadline Extended to Tuesday Evening
"They are young Korean Christians who were engaged in short-term evangelistic activity and service for children in Kandahar. We cannot turn away from poor people and children there just because of safety risks."
(Kabul, Afghanistan)—According to a TimesOnline report, a group of 23 Christian short-term missionaries from South Korea was kidnapped at gunpoint by Taliban militants on Thursday. The missionaries were traveling by bus from Kabul to Kandehar, where they were scheduled by their church to work in a hospital there.
Religious cleric, Sayed Murard Shrifi, said to be head of the public court in Baghlan, remarked, "In terms of punishment the one who comes to a Muslim country to convert people to their religion must face the strongest punishment. The first choice is death and the second life in prison."
Missions Director, Joseph Park, of the Christian Council of Korea, explained the group's purpose in Afghanistan, "They are young Korean Christians who were engaged in short-term evangelistic activity and service for children in Kandahar. We cannot turn away from poor people and children there just because of safety risks."
The Christian Post reports that a deadline declared by the Islamic terror group—originally scheduled for Monday morning—has been extended to Tuesday evening, July 24th. If demands by the Taliban are not met by then, says militant spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi, "The Taliban won't have any option but to kill the hostages."
For the full report, click below.
