Aid worker Gayle Williams was murdered by prejudice

Oct 26 2008 by Ken Oxley, Sunday Sun

IT’S impossible to look at the now-famous photograph of Gayle Williams without despairing at the utter senselessness of her murder.

That broad, unforced smile and the way her hands are playfully tucked under her chin. This is a young woman in the prime of life, radiating warmth and enthusiasm for her calling.

Yet that very calling became the perverse justification for gunning her down in cold blood.

It was claimed her charity preached Christianity, but the truth is her execution had little to do with religion. She died because she was perceived as a westerner . . . and because she was an easy target.

No matter that she had devoted her life to helping disabled children in Afghanistan or that she had shown nothing but respect for the country’s beliefs and customs, as her regular newsletters showed.

Gloating Taliban members were quick to claim responsibility.

Will they also claim responsibility for the devastating impact her death will have on the children she devoted her life to? Or, indeed, the very negative effect the killing will have on the recruitment of future aid workers?

Gayle Williams was neither preacher nor politician. She was simply someone who felt compelled to help those less fortunate than herself, regardless of their nationality.

Her death is a great loss. For her family, for her loved ones . . . and for the people of Afghanistan.