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CNN Sunday Morning

Eight Aid Workers Working in Afghanistan are on Trial for Preaching Christianity.

Aired September 30, 2001 - 07:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: If you were with us yesterday, you know that the trial of eight workers, eight aid workers working in Afghanistan are on trial for preaching Christianity. It was delayed yesterday. It continued today, Sunday and CNN's Tom Mintier now live in Islamabad with the parents of one of those on trial.

Tom, hello.

TOM MINTIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill. The session lasted just about an hour and, the lawyer was told you have three to 15 days to prepare your case. He also allowed the attorneys from Pakistan to meet with eight detainees. There are four from Germany, two from Australia and two Americans. All were in court.

One of the German women was not in court initially, apparently not feeling well. And they sent someone to bring her to court. She did appear in court and saying that this will be three to 15 days of preparation before the next possible appearance in court.

Now, joining me now is John Mercer and Deborah Otte (ph). You are the parents of Heather Mercer.

JOHN MERCER, HEATHER MERCER'S FATHER: That's right, Tom.

MINTIER: This court appearance, what does this signal to you? What does this say to you?

MERCER: It says that it looks like they're wanting to proceed on a more western-oriented court type of procedure. And it's encouraging from one aspect that the lawyer will have plenty of time to talk with the detainees and advise them on the best course of action and how...

MINTIER: This case has been going on since the first of August when they were taken. The judge made a point of saying, in court today; this has nothing to do with the events in New York and Washington on September the 11th.

DEBORAH OTTE, HEATHER MERCER'S MOTHER: That's encouraging for us. We never wanted it to be part of what has happened in the United States on September 11. This is - we're here on a strictly personal level. We want to keep it as strictly that and not make it a political issue. MINTIER: With this case now moving forward, the judge saying you've got three to 15 days to meet with - and they all agreed that this - these Pakistani lawyers will represent them - with it moving forward like this, were you hoping, as parents, today that the court would convene, would found them guilty and then tell them to leave the country? I mean is that the best-case scenario for you?

MERCER: Obviously, that's the best thing and obviously, we were hoping that that might happen today. But we're still hoping that that will be the resolution when the court reconvenes.

MINTIER: All right, John Mercer, thank you very much.

We are attempting to bring up a signal from Afghanistan in Kabul where an attorney who represented Heather Mercer today, was standing by. But Bill, I don't whether we've got that signal in yet or not. It's something we've been waiting for most of the afternoon here. Back to you.

HEMMER: OK, Tom. Again, to our viewers, we are working on it, Tom, indeed, as you said, but a bit difficult, the goings there, in Kabul. If we can establish that signal and talk with the attorney representing those eight aid workers, indeed we'll have it for you a bit later this morning.

Right now, a quick timeout; more after this.

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