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British aid worker executed in Afghanistan for being Christian
Kiran Randhawa20 Oct 2008
A BRITISH woman aid worker was shot dead in Afghanistan today by Islamic extremists because she was a Christian.
Two men rode up to Gayle Williams, 34, on a motor-cycle and one opened fire at close range, hitting her seven times in the head and legs.
Ms Williams, from London, had been walking to work in an affluent suburb of the capital Kabul and was said to have died before the police reached the scene. The attack was seen by children going to school.
She had only recently arrived in the city having fled Kandahar in the south after threats of violence against foreigners and would have been varying her route to work as a precaution.
Ms Williams was a volunteer with the British-registered Christian charity Serve Afghanistan, which works with the disabled. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting, saying on its website: "Our people carried out this attack. The reason that we killed her was because she was spreading Christianity."
Mike Lyth, chairman of Serve Afghanistan's board, rejected this, saying: "They will make any excuse. They probably saw there was a Christian organisation operating in Kabul and thought, 'This is how we can kill it'.
"We are Christians that is what gives us the motivation to go into a dangerous and difficult country to try to help. But she was not involved in proselytisation. We have a policy of not preaching Christianity." Mr Lyth described Ms Williams as a "lovely girl", adding: "She was the life and soul of the party, a great adventurer. She will be sorely missed, a great girl." Her mother is also believed to be in Kabul.
The militant group that claimed responsibility is called Zabiullah Mujahed. A witness told how two men on a motorbike drew alongside her. A builder, who gave his name as Daulad, said he heard seven shots and when he looked into the street he saw a woman lying on a footpath.
Ms Williams has dual British and South Africa citizenship. Mr Lyth added: "She was passionate about working for the disabled. She had done a lot of different things in her life but she really found her niche working with the Afghans." He said it was not clear whether the charity could continue to operate in the same way after the killing.
Mr Lyth added: "There were rumours that had come through the security organisation that (the Taliban) were going to target foreigners in Kandahar, so we decided that discretion was the better part of valour and pulled her back to Kabul. We definitely have a policy of no proselytisation, but act out of the love of Christ for people. 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."
The Foreign Office said next of kin had been informed.
Reader views (20)
I can imagine that this murder is a shocking to the majority of the residents of Afghanistan as it is to anyone else. I feel sorry for Gayles family and for the children she worked with who I imagine will miss her and the children who have to witness such violence in a country already devastated by war. I hope that her friends and family can find comfort in the fact that she was brave, kind and loving.
- Kaitlin, York, UK, 20/10/2008 17:27
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I am not a Christian, but deplore this action against one who does charitable work for the greater good of all mankind. When will these atrocities end? When will the right to worship and pray from whatever religion be recognised as a given right, not to kill in such a cold blooded act. These people will face the final judgement, then and only then will their demented acts be truly punished. Where in any Holy Scripture do these people gather their right to such acts?
- William Byers, Wakefield, England, 20/10/2008 17:23
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Violence is the expression of the inarticulate. Her death is a symbol of the dark, depraved depths to which extremists of any religion can drop.
- Jeffhall, Plymouth, UK, 20/10/2008 17:18
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"The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting, saying on its website: "Our people carried out this attack. The reason that we killed her was because she was spreading Christianity." ?
It`s seriously about time action was taken against these web sites that openly show pleasure that a MURDER has been committed. This and any other web site preaching this sort of pathetic statement should be shut down and prevented from opening again. The people running the site and advocating these comments should be arrested and charged. No other people could get away with comments like this.
Any group who openly states the type of comment above should be arrested and charged each and every time. It is pathetic that we allow this sort of rubbish to be published let alone that it is ok to actually do it without fear of legal reprisal.
- Keithw, Wirral Merseyside, 20/10/2008 17:11
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The Taliban are the product of Islam's schools of extremist, totalitarianism. It is absolutely true that there are probably many more Islamic moderates who just want to get on with their lives than there are extremists - but there is also one hell of a large 'minority' that condone the 'robust' Islamic drive for recognition and even dominance at the very least.
If the moderates out there persist in being bewildered at why so many people are reduced to blaming all for the crimes of the 'few', this is their answer.
...and before anyone comes up with the crimes committed against Islamics past or present as mitigation. Crimes against humanity are no different if one group does it, or a dozen do it. They are still crimes. They are still wrong.
- Rogan, Irving, 20/10/2008 17:10
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Gayle acted in true Christian faith, not spreading Christianity but just doing good work; I will say a prayer for Gayle and her family.
- Angela, London, 20/10/2008 16:58
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The amount of anti-muslim sentiment in some of these replies is shocking. How moronic do you have to be, to miss the fact that the same seeds of fear and hatred you show exists in those who committed this terrible crime in the first place? I despair for us.
- Dan, London, 20/10/2008 16:49
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Jesus said we should serve others, not be served, and love our enemies, even if they hate us. That is how Christianity is different from Islam.
- Debbie, Penarth, U.K., 20/10/2008 16:17
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In response to the previous comment I should say that Afghans who are living in the UK are as shocked and saddened by Ms Williams killing. It is outrageous to claim all Afghans living in the UK are Taliban supporters. There is not even one Afghan mosque in the UK and Afghans who living in the UK are also victims of brutalities by religious fundamentals such as Taliban and Al-Qada.
My heart goes out to Ms William's family and her friends.
- Abbie, London, 20/10/2008 16:03
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if your out there, sticking out like a sore thumb, someones gonna kill you. simular to putting a copper in prison. they all want to kill him just for being a copper, even though he never arrested or even seen anyone in that prison before.
- Dave, essex, 20/10/2008 15:55
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Now that is the TRUE meaning of the word "martyr".
- Tim, Worcester, UK, 20/10/2008 15:53
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There is coming a time when Christians will have to stand up and fight and, if necessary, die for their religion -- in the same way as it was necessary 1,000 years ago. The great war that is coming won't be between countries, but between those of the main religions.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 20/10/2008 15:52
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That, Carl, is what I believe is called "tarring all with the same brush". You wouldn't accuse all Irishmen of being in the IRA, would you?
- Rob, Blackpool, Lancashire, England, 20/10/2008 15:51
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Can you imagine the uproar if the situation was reversed and this happened over here?!?!?!
"Muslim shot for preaching non Christian beliefs" or for not integrating and accepting the beliefs/culture of the country they chose to go to.
we'd never hear the end of it.
The UK: We give, you take.
- Rich, Bham, 20/10/2008 15:50
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supporters of one non-existant magic wizzard in the sky killing someone who believes in a different non-existant magic wizzard in the sky. luckily these people can go to their respective non-existant heavens when they die.
good grief. anyone who disagrees with my opinion is a dirty infidel and should be stoned. (with stones)
- Johnny, london uk, 20/10/2008 15:44
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We invade their country, shove Christianity down their throats and we are surprised when they fight back?
- Rabbi Clive Rosenberg, London, 20/10/2008 15:42
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Carl, no one invites violent religious fundamentalists into the country, why do you generalise?
- Tom, Midlands, England, 20/10/2008 15:34
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Geoff Hoon said on BBC's 'Question Time' that the British public didn't understand Islam,yes we do Geoff,read the above article and you might be enlightened too!!.
- Jeff, Newcastle Upon Tyne,England, 20/10/2008 15:33
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I pray that her blood shed for being a Christian will not be in vain in Jesus name and I pray for Gods comfort to her family as well.
- Sophie, Wembley, London, 20/10/2008 15:29
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Yet another example of people whom we welcome into our country but who preach hatred against us in their mosques and murder us when we dare bring succour to those suffering in their own lands.
- Carl, Norwich, England, 20/10/2008 15:18
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