Afghanistan's ruling Taliban said today diplomats from Germany, the US and Australia had the right to visit eight foreign aid workers detained in Kabul on charges they promoted Christianity.
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A man holds a Taliban flag at the Kabul detention centre where 24 aid workers are believed to be held.
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Twenty-four workers from a German-based aid organisation - four Germans, two Australians and two Americans - and 16 Afghans were arrested on August 5th on charges of trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity.
The detained Afghans could face the death penalty for either deserting Islam for Christianity or trying to convert Muslim Afghans, but a US official has said the foreigners, under a decree approved in June, may just be deported.
Decisions in this case will be taken according to the prevailing laws of Sharia, a senior Taliban diplomat said. Punishment would be different for Muslims and for non-Muslims; there is a difference, he said.
Taliban say supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar has the final word.
The Taliban said yesterday they had gathered more evidence to prove that the 24 staff were trying to convert Afghan Muslims to Christianity.
The Taliban religious police say they have seized more audio and video cassettes, most in the local Dari and Pushto languages, taking the total to around 10,000 items.
The group has denied its staff were proselytising, and said other people working for it in Kabul and Herat had fled to Pakistan.