Plea for aid workers' release

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- The father of one of eight Western aid workers awaiting trial for proselytizing in Afghanistan has made an impassioned plea for civil rights activist Jesse Jackson to assist in their release.

Speaking to CNN John Mercer asked Jackson “to do whatever he can do to effect the humanitarian release of all eight detainees currently in Kabul.”

Mercer’s 24-year-old daughter Heather is one of eight Shelter Now International aid workers arrested and detained in August on charges of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity, a violation of Taliban law.

Jackson Wednesday received an invitation to lead a peace delegation to Afghanistan even though the Bush administration said its demands to the Taliban to hand over suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden and his associates was non-negotiable.

The civil right activist said he is yet to make a decision though he added Mercer’s appeal was “compelling”.

“I want to help those eight Christians who are held in captivity,” Jackson told CNN.

MORE STORIES • Jackson mulls Taliban invite   • Aid worker stands accused in Afghanistan     VIDEO CNN's Larry Woods reports on the concern of a family fearing for the safety of their daughter jailed in Afghanistan (September 22) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

“I’ll be meeting with world religious leaders throughout the day to work out how we can respond to Mr. Mercers appeal on one hand and the interest our government expresses in trying to bring this crisis to a resolution on the other.”

“We hope and pray that the invitations that have been extended by the government and Mr. Mercer’s appeal will have the impact of us bringing about some change to this very ugly and dangerous situation,” he said.

Jackson, who has already spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, said he would consider traveling solely to Afghanistan solely on the basis of Mercer's appeal.

Trial to resume

Earlier Taliban officials in Kabul announced that the trial of the aid workers -- two Americans, two Australians and four Germans -- would resume Saturday.

Sixteen Afghan aid workers have also been arrested and are charged with the same crime though no date has been set for their trial.

Family members of some of the aid workers were allowed to visit them for the first time on September 1. Since then, no Western officials have been allowed contact.

Mercer said that the detainees are being treated well and are in good condition, after receiving letters recently from two of the aid workers including his daughter.

“For almost two months now they have been on a very up and down roller coaster,” he said.

“Emotionally they have had some very trying times. The Taliban have assured us of taking care of them and I strongly and firmly believe that.”

Afraid

Mercer: 'I want to believe them (Taliban) and that is the way it is at this point'

He said that the detainees were aware of the situation in the region and were afraid of what was coming next. However, he said he believes that the Taliban will look after them if the U.S. does strike Afghanistan.

“I have to believe them,” he said. “I have been told by the Taliban that they will do everything to keep them safe if military action is instigated inside Afghanistan.”

Pakistani attorney Atif Ali Khan, who is trying to secure the release of the detainees, is scheduled to visit the aid workers in Afghanistan and meet with Taliban court officials Saturday.

"The Taliban have been very forthcoming on this and have assured me all cooperation on meeting the detainees to get to know their court process," Khan said. Taliban foreign ministry officials told Khan that the detainees were safe and have been moved to another detention center for their own protection.

Most international humanitarian aid workers left Afghanistan after the September 11 terror attacks in the United States, under the possibility of a U.S. reprisal.

Diplomats from the United States, Germany and Australia who had been seeking the release of the aid workers also left the country. Earlier this month, the diplomats met with Taliban officials in Kabul to try to secure the release of the aid workers, who were arrested in early August. The Afghan Foreign Ministry has not indicated when the Afghans might face trial. Their cases are being dealt with separately from their Western counterparts.