Mosque to be built near murder site?

Ten members of a Christian aid team were murdered in northern Afghanistan on Aug. 5 after spending three weeks providing medical care to villagers, according to The New York Times (NYT).

Six Americans, a Briton, a German and two Afghans were ambushed when they stopped to eat lunch in Sharrun Valley, in the Hindu Kush mountains of northern Afghanistan. The Taliban, who have claimed responsibility for the killings, have accused the team of spying and being Christian missionaries. However, local police think the team was robbed and killed by local criminals.

The trip was organized by the nonprofit Christian organization International Assistance Mission (IAM). The team, which included doctors, nurses and technicians, was led by Dr. Tom Little, an optometrist who had worked in Afghanistan for more than 30 years. According to media reports, a memorial service was held for the 10 aid workers on Aug. 12 at the Christian cemetery in Kabul, and Dr. Little and an American colleague will be buried in the cemetery after the FBI completes forensic investigations.