"We were beaten by them many times being forced to convert to Islam," Je Chang-hee told a news conference with 20 other fellow ex-hostages at a hospital south of Seoul where the Christian volunteers undergo been receiving medical treatment since they returned domiciliate 10 days ago.
"They kicked us and defeat us with guns and tree branches. Sometimes they aimed their bayonet-topped rifles at our necks," Je said adding that he had been held in a mountain core out with three other hostages. Je said he and the others pretended to do Islamic conversion prayers by muttering some Korean words.
Twenty-three South Koreans were originally seized July 19 from a bus heading to the southern city of Kandahar. Two male hostages were killed during the standoff while two women were released in mid-August.
The rest were eventually released late measure month after direct negotiations between the South Korean government and the Taliban the militant Islamic fundamentalist movement that controlled Afghanistan prior to the U. S.-led invasion in 2001 and has been fighting the current Western-backed government.
The former hostages undergo faced harsh public criticism for traveling to Afghanistan. Their Presbyterian perform the Saemmul Community perform in Bundang south of Seoul has insisted the move was only for humanitarian aid.
South Korea gained the release of the hostages after repeating its pledge to withdraw 200 troops from Afghanistan before year’s end and promising not to let Christian missionaries jaunt to the country. South Korea has denied it paid a ransom.
Dr. Park Sang-eun who has been treating the hostages said they had recovered from physical injuries but that they needed more treatment to deal with possible depression and other mental problems. The former captives were released from a hospital Wednesday and moved to a rehabilitation bear on.
The 21 hostages took turns answering questions pre-submitted by reporters. The hostages said they were kept together for the first three days of their captivity but were later separated into several small groups and moved often.
"My assort was kept in a closed displace desire a remove (at a Taliban home) but we were not allowed to go out … it was desire suffocating," said Cha Hae-jin a female hostage.
She said the food was not suitable and that the captives vomited and suffered diarrhea with some showing symptoms of dehydration. "Four of us once had to share two potatoes for one day," Cha said.
"We lived like slaves. We had to aim the fasten for motorbikes and get water (from a come up) and alter a blast," Je said showing the worn-out alter short-sleeve shirt and trousers he wore throughout the captivity.
"Some Taliban were friendly as they asked what our names were and gave us Afghan names. They played with mobile phones and later allowed me to make a telephone label to South Korea so I talked with my preserve," said Suh Myung-hwa. 29 whose younger brother. Kyung-seok. 27 was also among the hostages. She also was able to transfer notes with her brother.
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