The Pakistani lawyer of eight Western aid workers on...

The Pakistani lawyer of eight Western aid workers on trial in the Afghan capital, Kabul, fears a U.S. military strike at Afghanistan [in retaliation for the September 11 attack on the US] could destroy any hope of persuading the Muslim clerics who will pass judgment on the eight to show compassion and set them free.
Even before the current crisis, Taliban officials had issued conflicting statements about what penalties the aid workers might face, including death.
"Especially after the [U.S. and other] diplomats left Kabul, I feel these people have been left alone," Atif Ali Khan said in an interview. "The situation is really tense now.".
Khan a specialist both in Islamic law, known as Sharia, and human rights law, was chosen by all eight Shelter Now International aid workers to defend them against charges of for trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, a capital offence in Afghanistan.