Islam is a missionary religion, like Christianity, but apparently one of the worst things that you can do in some parts of the Islamic world is to proselytize. Proselytizing is a word with a contemporary negative connotation for some, especially in government, which simply means religious advocacy. For some religions, this obligation and desire is a central tenet of their faith.

The 10 aid workers who were tragically murdered in Afghanistan this past week sacrificed their lives to help those in need in rural parts of the country. Six Americans, two Afghans, a German, and a Briton were working for the International Assistance Mission, a Christian non-profit which has been in Afghanistan since 1966. It is amazing that for a group of aid workers dedicated to restoring vision and fixing teeth of Afghanis, in some cases for decades through Soviet occupation, civil war, Taliban terror, and now nearly nine years of post 9-11 fighting-it is deemed necessary to clarify that the heinous nature of their deaths is not justified by reaffirming and clarifying that they were not involved in proselytization (or not spying-- the other convenient Taliban allegation and justification for their murders).

In reality they were, even though the Christian aid organization and the U.S. State Department among others confirms they were not; their service to humanity was a compelling public witness to their faith. Secretary of State Clinton condemned the attack and disputed the Taliban's assertion that they were promoting Christianity "We also condemn the Taliban's transparent attempt to justify the unjustifiable by making false accusations about their activities in Afghanistan." "Our faith motivates and inspires us-but we do not proselytize," IAM's executive director, Dirk Frans, said in a statement shortly after the attack.

They have become martyrs because of their faith. The ancient definition of martyrdom was to die for one's faith. Islamic radicals have turned that definition on its head by describing a martyr as one who kills for his or her faith. According to NPR reporting and the Aid Worker Security Database, the overall number of attacks on humanitarian aid workers worldwide has risen sharply over the past decade. Since 2006, most of the violence has occurred in Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia and Pakistan, all predominately Muslim countries. Major attacks since then on aid workers involving killings, kidnappings, and serious injuries include 123 in Afghanistan, 115 in Sudan, 89 in Somalia, 28 in Pakistan, and 22 in Chad.

Charges of proselytizing or religious advocacy should not be conceded as a legitimate reason to limit religious freedom or take the innocent life of someone of another faith. We may not like someone knocking on our door, but we don't shoot them, particularly when they are dedicated to helping us and our neighbors. There is much discussion about a "clash of civilizations" between the Islamic world and Western Civilization, but what is clear here is that there is a clash of ideals when freedom of conscience and freedom of religious speech become offenses worthy of death. Our hearts are with their families and our admiration is with them.