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Taliban Told Hostages to Convert or Die

Freed Koreans describe harrowing 6-week Afghanistan ordeal

By Josie Garthwaite, Newser User

Posted Sep 12, 2007 5:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – South Korean aid workers held captive by Taliban militants in Afghanistan recounted being urged at gunpoint to convert to Islam during at a news conference in Seoul today, the BBC reports. They were often beaten and forced to work "like slaves" during a six-week ordeal, which ended last month and left two of the 23 hostages dead.

Two of the hostages described the militants trying to force conversion. "We were beaten with a tree branch or kicked around," one said. "All 23 of us leaned against a wall and armed Taliban aimed their guns at us, and a pit was before me," another recalled. "They said they will save us if we believe in Islam."

[Images (6)]

[Videos (4)]

Lee Ji-young, front, one of the 23 Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan, wipes her tears during a press conference with other fellow ex-hostages at a hospital in Anyang, south of Seoul, Wednesday,... (Associated Press)

A South Korean woman, right, who was kidnapped and held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan cries at a funeral service for pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, who was killed by Taliban militants, at Saemmul Community... (Associated Press)

Lee Sung-eun, left, one of the 19 released South Korean hostages meets with her mother on her arrived at a hospital in Anyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007. Nineteen South Koreans... (Associated Press)

Released South Korean hostages leave after a press conference they held upon their arrival at the Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007. Nineteen South Koreans... (Associated Press)

Kim Yoon-young, second from right, one of the 19 released South Korean hostages, reunites her family members on her arrival at a hospital in Anyang, west of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007.... (Associated Press)

Lee Sung-eun, one of the 23 Koreans kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan, right, weeps during a press conference with other fellow ex-hostages at a hospital in Anyang, south of Seoul, Wednesday, Sept.... (Associated Press)

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Taliban Still Holds South Korean Hostages (compassion11 (YouTube))

Taliban releases SK hostages (trangpvt (YouTube))

Taliban frees last seven hostages (StefanSchmiederer (YouTube))

Taliban kidnappers claim to have killed Korean hostage (StefanSchmiederer (YouTube))

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Taliban Told Hostages to Convert or Die