The eight foreign aid workers on trial for promoting...

The eight foreign aid workers on trial for promoting Christianity in Islamic Afghanistan appeared for the first time in the ruling Taliban's Supreme Court, saying they were innocent of proselytising.
The hearing, now in its fourth day, was presided over by Chief Justice Noor Mohammad Saqib and 18 bearded, white-turbaned judges.
"During the investigation we were accused of many things but that was not true," Georg Taubmann, Afghanistan director for German-based Christian relief agency Shelter Now International (SNI), told the court.
"We have never converted anybody. We are shocked with the accusations," he added.This the first time any of the detained foreigners had been seen or spoken in public since their arrest in August. Islamabad-based diplomats from Germany, Australia and the United States, plus three relatives of the detainees and international media were allowed to attend the trial session.