Photo released by Yonhap / Sammul Church
Afghanistan (MNN) ― The Taliban has reportedly extended its deadline to Tuesday evening in a life or death ransom for 23 South Korean hostages seized last week in Afghanistan.
Oh Soo-In, a senior administrator at the Sammul Protestant Community Church, the sending church, explained the abductees had been on a short-term medical missions trip in Afghanistan since Friday, July 13. They were due to return to South Korea yesterday.
The 23, including 18 women, were working at an aid organization in Kandahar. Most of the Koreans are in their 20s and 30s, and include nurses and English teachers.
Voice of the Martyrs' Canada's Glenn Penner says the militants threatened to execute the South Korean hostages if the government didn't free imprisoned insurgents and withdraw its 200 soldiers from Afghanistan.
Given the conditions, there were questions as to whether or not the group was targeted because of its national affiliation, or because the team was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. "It's not safe for NGOs period, and certainly not for Christian ones, particularly. But I'm quite certain that they were not specifically targeted because they were Christians. I am concerned, however that the way that they are treated may differ when it is discovered that they are specifically, Christian missionaries."
The South Korean embassy says a delegation of Korean
diplomats is aiding the negotiations. Penner
says this time is crucial for the hostages.
They're urging prayer.
"Pray for wisdom for the South Korean government as they are negotiating with the Taliban at this time. Pray for the safety of these missionaries. Their organization has made it very clear that they were not involved in evangelistic work. Having said all that, pray that they will be faithful witnesses to Christ, in love and action."
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