Remember Those In Chains

I covered this story on the weekend update podcast, but I needed to pay more heed. Christians in South Korea face looming death at the hands of terrorists.

Qari Yousef Ahmadi, who claims to speak for the Taliban, said the militants had extended the deadline on the fate of the kidnapped South Koreans another day after the Afghan government refused to release any of the 23 Taliban prisoners the insurgents want freed.

The militants have pushed back their ultimatum at least three times.

Meanwhile, those who don’t understand in South Korea are criticizing the victims:

“Religious groups should realise once and for all that dangerous missionary and volunteer activities in Islamic countries including Afghanistan not only harm Korea’s national objectives, but also put other Koreans under a tremendous amount of duress,” the right-leaning Chosun Ilbo newspaper said in an editorial on Monday.

The Saemmul church from which the kidnapped Koreans were dispatched is relatively moderate and its missions abroad have focused on volunteer medical and humanitarian work, people in the Christian community say.

You know, most of us in the West live safe, comfortable lives where we never stand up for anything, which is one of our greatest problems. They came to help and do good in this troubled area of the world and are facing death. Meanwhile, Michelle Malkin reports that Human Rights Watch is turning a blind eye to it all, instead their front page complains about mandatory deportation for criminals.

Regardless, send up some prayers.  I’m sure this will be covered by the Persecution Blog later on.