Taliban release video of kidnapped Canadian, warn he could face a trial

[News_Editor]

Taliban release video of kidnapped Canadian, warn he could face a trial

2011-05-09 21:09:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- Canadian tourist Colin Rutherford appeared calm in a video released by the Taliban on Monday, while a Taliban spokesman warned that he could face a trial if the Canadian government does not accept its terms.

Rutherford was captured by the Taliban in Ghazni City, the capital of Ghazni Province, in late February after he traveled to the country as a tourist to learn Pashto during his travels. The Taliban claim that Rutherford is a secret agent.

"[Rutherford] has been involved in some clandestine activities to get some fugitive information, especially to learn about whereabouts of the Mujahideen (Muslim fighters), according to the admission of the suspect," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in February. "Mujahideen gotten some documents out of the suspect describing him as a secret agent."

On Monday, the Taliban released a 2-minute video in which Rutherford is asked a series of basic questions such as his name, age and nationality. The Canadian hostage can be seen answering the questions calmly.

Rutherford said in the video that he does not work for the government and that he came to visit Afghanistan as a tourist. He said he first arrived in Afghanistan in October, before leaving for Ghazni.

"I spent a day or two touring Kabul and then I went to Ghazni," Rutherford said. "I came to Ghazni three days after I reached Kabul. Two or three days." Asked why he was interested in Afghanistan, Rutherford said: "Historic history and historical sights. Old buildings, shrines."

Mujahid said on Monday in a statement that accompanied the video that Rutherford came under Taliban surveillance because of 'suspicious actions' before his capture. "The documents seized and investigations carried out after his arrest showed that he had entered the country while working for a spy agency and had been working as an active spy for a long time, gathering intelligence information about Mujahideen," the Taliban spokesman said.

Mujahid called on the Canadian government to accept its terms to 'solve this case' but did not say what the Taliban demands. "[The Taliban] once again re-iterates itself to the Canadian government to take urgent steps to solve this case or this detainee could face a trial," he added.

A trial by the Taliban would likely lead to Rutherford's execution.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-09