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Freed aid workers say faith gave them strength

The last three months were the "greatest terror" and the "greatest privilege" in her life, said Mercer (right).

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Tear-choked aid workers held by the Taliban for over three months for preaching Christianity have told reporters in Pakistan that they used their faith to get through the ordeal.

The day after their release they have told of their months in captivity, the dramatic rescue at the hands of American special forces and anti-Taliban troops, as well as their hopes for a free Afghanistan.

Freed Americans Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry thanked God that they were out of Afghanistan, but said they would like to return one day, and feel no animosity towards their Taliban captors.

RESOURCES • Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry profiles

Mercer recounted the moment of their freedom when an Alliance soldier burst into their prison cell shouting: "You're free, you're free, the city's free, the Taliban have left."

VIDEO After arriving in Pakistan, the 8 rescued aid workers greet family members (November 16) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Two American aid workers who were rescued from a Taliban prison recount the events that led up to their release (November 16) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

She went on to describe the moments after their escape saying she was surrounded by "wild, wild west men" carrying heavy armory, as 100 people cheered "the Taliban has fled." Mercer fought back tears praising those involved in their release, including President Bush, whom she described as a man of God.

Evidence

They said that they were shocked when they discovered they were to go on trial after 22 hours of interrogation by the Taliban and that a child's religious book they gave to an Afghan child was to be used as evidence against them.

The women said, however, that they were treated with respect by the Taliban, some referring to them as sisters and saying that they loved them.

After their escape the group of eight stayed for two nights in the homes of the Northern Alliance before being taken to Pakistan by the American special services.

The workers are employed by Shelter Now International, directed from Germany but based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They were charged with preaching Christianity, which in harsh Taliban courts can be punishable by death.

Curry: "Our government did an incredible job and got us out of there safely."

The group included four Germans -- Georg Taubmann, Margrit Stebnar, Kati Jelinek and Silke Duerrkopf, and two Australians, Diana Thomas and Peter Bunch. Retreating Taliban troops took them on Monday from Kabul toward Kandahar, where they feared they would not escape alive.

Sixteen Afghan employees accused with them also managed to flee in Kabul. The two American women were arrested first on August 3, accused of visiting Afghan homes to distribute Christian literature and show CD-roms on the life of Jesus.