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British female aid worker shot dead in Kabul had moved over security fears
Video: scene of the shooting in Kabul
Taleban militants shot dead a British woman in Kabul yesterday, claiming that she had been spreading Christianity.
Gayle Williams, 34, a worker for the Christian charity Serve Afghanistan, was shot by two men on a motorbike as she walked to work in the west of the city. She was found lying dead on the footpath by one of her colleagues.
“Our people carried out this attack in District 3 of Kabul this morning,” Zabiullah Mujahed, the Taleban’s spokesman, told The Times. “The reason that we killed her was because she was spreading Christianity.”
The difficulty for aid workers is that they need to travel around, but are reluctant to seek military protection for fear of compromising their independence
A witness said that seven shots were fired. The Afghan Interior Ministry said: “Two armed men sitting on a motorbike shot her dead. Some bullets hit her body and some hit her leg and when police got there she was dead.”
Ms Williams, from London, had recently been pulled out from the charity’s office in Kandahar, in the south, because of security fears for foreign aid workers there. She is the first Western aid worker to be killed by the Taleban in Kabul.
Mike Lyth, the chairman of Serve Afghanistan, dismissed the Taleban’s claims that Ms Williams had been targeted for religious revenge, and said that the charity did not preach Christianity.
“Purely from my point of view, this is a case of the Taleban picking up on something,” he said. “They know we are a Christian agency. We definitely have a policy of no proselytisation . . . She was only doing missionary work if that means living a Christian life and helping disabled people. She spoke only a little Pashtun and Farsi.”
Describing Ms Williams as a “wonderful girl”, Mr Lyth added: “We are devastated by the loss of Gayle . . . She was a great adventurer who had done a lot of different things, but this is something where she really felt she had found her niche, working with Afghans.” She had varied her route to work each day.
He said that it was not clear whether the charity could continue to operate in the same way after the killing. Serve Afghanistan runs projects in Kabul, Kandahar and the north of the country helping the blind, deaf and physically handicapped.
Aid agencies have expressed unease at the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan and last month called on the United Nations to provide security for aid workers.
“Aid agencies are now directly targeted by armed opposition groups in Afghanistan and access to communities in need is constantly shrinking,” they said.
According to the Afghanistan NGO Safety Office, there have been 146 security incidents involving nongovernment organisations working in Afghanistan so far this year, compared with 135 for last year. In August three female aid workers, including one Briton, were killed by the Taleban on a road south of Kabul.
Afghanistan’s Christian community is said to be very fragile, with a small number of churches operating in secret in Kabul. Alexa Papadouris, of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said: “The estimates for the Afghan Christian community range between 500 and 8,000 . . . Converts are very vulnerable to being hunted down as apostates.”
Douglas Alexander, the International Development Secretary, said that the killing of Ms Williams was a “callous and cowardly act”. He added: “To present her killing as a religious act is as despicable as it is absurd – it was cold-blooded murder.”
Ms Williams grew up in South Africa but had been living in London when she started working for Serve Afghanistan two years ago.
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To those who say christian groups shouldn't be there, some have been invited there because of the work they do and the fact that no one else is willing to do it. Also to Peter's comment, they don't go around in western clothing. When out in public they are required to dress in a very modest manner
kal sloan, Tilley, Canada
Most foreign aid workers in Kabul are sensible enough not to advertise themselves as Christian. Doing so is irresponsible and puts all of our lives at risk.
Mike Andrews, Kabul, Afghanistan
Most foreign aid workers in Kabul are sensible enough not to advertise themselves as Christians. Doing so is irresponsible and puts all of our lives at risk.
Mike Andews, Kabul, Afghanistan
In every Western country Muslims r free to teach about Islam. In every Islamic nation Christians r persecuted n killed if they share their faith. How true ring d words of Jesus: “… you cannot bear to listen to my message. You r d children of ur father, d devil, n u follow ur father’s desires… he was a murderer n has never been on d side of thruth… u r not from God n that is why u will not listen” (John8:42-58)
carmine cicchiello, adelaide, australia
Every act of violence makes our world a darker place.I hope people of all faiths will unite in their rejection of the ways of darkness and live in the light of love.The God of Love does not bind us through fear.He gave us free will.He has the greatest love of allThe love that gives freedom.
mary mckeown, melbourne, australia
What is it that makes people so insecure anout their faith that they have to murder 'competition'? A good product speaks for itself, They are undermining their own credibility. Let people stay or leave each faith as they want to. Something's badly wrong if you have to keep people by fear and murder
Phil, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
The real enemy here is ignorance
Les H, Zhangzhou, China
Pray against the apostacy law - and pray that they will not enforce Islamic laws in Britain too please,
Jacqui, Cirencester, UK
Is this a minority view? Telegraph reports:
A month ago, the Iranian parliament voted in favour of a draft bill, which would codify the death penalty for any male Iranian who leaves his Islamic faith. Women would get life imprisonment. The voting:196 votes for, with just 7 against
Andrew, Tonbridge, Kent
Many headlines in the western media states that Ms Williams was killed for her Religion, for being a Christian. That is wrong and misleading. She was killed for *spreading* Christianlty and NOT for being a Christian. There are hundrends of thousands of Christians in the Middle East.
jayil, lodon, uk
As the band Chicago sang in one of their songs"Only the Beginning",look in India in the last couple weeks and in Iraq,it's going to get a lot tougher than this to be a Christian.Islam made Islamic countries what they are today,Hindu ,same in India and other countries,etc..And Christianity the West.
schon shea , apollo beach,florida, USA
Yes, a sad day for this family. But remember: This man is only carrying out the command of the Qur'an "When the holy months are past, kill them (i.e. infidels, Christians) wherever you find them, slay them...." It is not enough to say 'oh these are extremists'...this is part of their duty to obey
Roger Malstead, E Wenatchee, USA
Apostasy (conversion away from islam) is actually a capital offence in Afghanistan and six other Muslim countries. They actually have a law that kills people if they decide not to be Muslim. And you thought this was the 21st century?
Pauline Renton, Camberley, UK
Dr Gopinath, Dammam, Saudi Arabia Did you know that it is very difficult to attain happiness or contentment as long as Bigotry remains.
Peter, Vancouver.BC, Canada
If a religion is right for someone they will believe in it for themselves, why force the oppression to have only the faith in afghanistan! If "ONLY ONE" religion was correct for everyone, there would be only this one left... no religion is perfect, but don't punish those trying to help!
christopher, london, uk
The death of any innocent person is immoral and unjust. This is war and it is ugly. The Taliban assassinate while the British/US forces beat some to death or bomb them indiscriminately and call these unknown casualties "collateral damage"!! Friends, murder is murder whatever guise it comes in.
Abha, London, UK
Those that live by the Word ...
Colin, Toronto, Canada
Very tragic death of a very brave woman helping the most vulnerable people in soceity
edwina, Harrogate,
Another martyr for Christ, another murder for Mohammed. One day, God willing, the Moslems will move out of horror and violence, and become those who love a God of love, instead of a God of compassion. A God of forgiveness, instead of a God of mercy. God bless the Moslems. They need it..
Lee, sterling, va, usa
Man, woman, child, Muslim, Christian, Taliban, uniformed soldier, civilian: in Afghanistan all daily face the possibility of death. Most have no choice other than to remain in the warzone.
Perhaps Gayle Williams, too, had no choice but to follow her calling.
M Khan, Peterborough, UK
Is this part of Shariah law?
David Scott, Leeds, UK
Using religion to justify the Murder of an innocent human is so so wrong. I believe there is only one Great architect of the universe and how its depicted depends on where you live, and what you have been taught to believe in. Why can't we just live and let live and show some difference?
Neil , Cheshire, UK
not surprise, let see what the muslim countries say about this...nothing....and we are waisting millions of pounds there. Whe in Italy a Muslim converted to Christianity , it was an scandal in the Muslim countries, they even put a price for his head
christian, Montevideo,
Gayle's murder illustrates the shallow value system of radical islam. The Taliban prevent social recovery in Afghanistan. By comparison, Gayle demonstrated the forgiving love of Christ for Afghanis - that, unlike radical islam, is not forced on the Afghanis by means of violence and intimidation.
Bill, cockermouth, UK
Gopinath if the Pope said anything you would be saying stop interfering in the Muslim world. Double standards which the World is growing tired of will come back to haunt the Muslim World. Can you imagine if we started killing anyone who preached Islam, we could have a right bloody war.
Lloyd, London,
being targeted because of christianity is just an excuse... If they had been secular aid workers they would be targeted and this time the taliban would say its out of revenge for occupation. The fact is that taliban are extremely violent and find a convenient excuse for any murder they commit.
Bob, Vancouver, Canada
Zen, Islamic fundamentalism and using Islam to cause hatred and kill people is upsetting the World. We see articles like this and views are hardened towards Islam which is unfair as well. It is up to the leaders of Islam to remove the fundamentalism in their faith, they have an obligation to do so.
Lloyd, London,
Comfort her Family, Jesus. Hopefully, she's already enjoying the better side of eternity at the feet of the King of Kings.
Mark, London,
People like these Taliban may choose to blame God for their actions, but it is clear to those of us who can see that any excuse to do exactly what they want to do is a good excuse. In other words, to the Taliban morons, don't be laying this atrocity at God's doorstep...it's all about you.
Rod Batschelet, Orwell, US
Sorry, Thomas, I'm never going to 'walk behind the male in life'. I'll walk alongside him as friend, comrade and loving wife, but there are times when I have to make the decisions and times when he has to. It's called 'partnership'.
God rest her. 'Well done, good and faithful servant...'
Margaret Stoll, Rochford, England
I'm still waiting to hear ANY Muslim leader publically condemn, or even just apologise for, this sort of violence and murder.
David, Oxford, UK
Murdered for being Christian, and we in Britain are accused of Islamophobia over the mildest of comment? That's cultural relativity for you. Quite disgusting and a warning of what true Shariah brings. This is the real and authentic Islam no matter what the BBC bleats about.
logdon, stockport,
What a waste of life. There should be ban on all charity groups operating in Afganistan. This is obviously not a place for non-military personel given the current state of affairs.
kiril, london, uk
It Matters Not What The Western World Thinks,Its Seems That
The Lesson That In Afganistan The Taliban Preach the Fanatic Side Of Islam When Islam Is A Kindly Religeon Taught
Properly,And Women Whilst Honoured,Walk Behind The Male
In Life.
Christian Thinking Is A Threat To Thier Domination.
Thomas, Surbiton, uk
rest in peace
deboh, rewa, niger
RIP Gayle:
I feel that part of the responsibility lies with the leaders of Christian 'aid' organisations. Christianity and Evangelical impulses are clearly upsetting to Islamic people in Islamic countries.
The reality is that only secular western aid should be pracitised in Afganistan.
Zen, London,
Will the pope lecture the Taliban on more tolerance for Christians ? The Vatican only pipes up when a couple of churches are burnt down by tribals in India and lecture to us. When Christians are murdered in Afghanistan, or are lashed and deported from Saudi Arabia they coose to keep quiet
Dr Gopinath, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
This country is a war zone, People need to realize this. This is not a fun challenging place to go to,This is a very deadly place to go to especially for woman who go around dressed in western clothes carrying a bible, Does no one explain these things to these people.
Peter, Vancouver.BC, Canada
These murderers have no knowledge of the Holy Qur'an and are incapable of reflecting its proof. Thinking they defend Islam by murder, incompetent in speech and utterly devoid of wisdom, they are unfit to show the Holy Gospel and Holy Qur'an originate from one Divine Source and resort to killing.
Richard Reid, Grand Rapids, United States
The Taliban are animals.
E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland