WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES – The US House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling for the immediate release of Ryan Corbett, a US citizen who was “wrongfully detained” by the Taliban on August 10, 2022.
The resolution, H. Res. 965, was unanimously passed on Tuesday, June 11th.
Following the approval of the resolution, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement on Wednesday, calling on President Joe Biden to prioritize bringing Ryan Corbett home.
Mr. McCaul emphasized that Corbett’s health is deteriorating as he continues to be held in “horrific conditions” by the “Taliban terrorists.”
“Ryan Corbett and his family lived in Afghanistan for over a decade. He supported humanitarian efforts and provided opportunities for the Afghan people,” Mr. McCaul said.
“He is a good man, who has dedicated his life to helping others. He is not a criminal,” he added.
He criticized the Biden administration for not doing enough to secure Ryan’s release, saying that the President must project strength on the world stage and ensure Ryan’s immediate release.
“Anything less is a failure of American leadership,” he emphasized.
Ryan Corbett, aged 40, an American humanitarian, was arrested by Taliban intelligence alongside his German and Afghan colleagues during a business trip to Afghanistan.
Mr. Ryan moved with his family to Afghanistan in 2010 to assist the Afghan people. they left the country in August 2021, following the withdrawal of US and NATO troops which resulted in the swift collapse of the Western-backed republic government and the Taliban’s subsequent return to power.
Although the Taliban have not disclosed the main reason for Mr. Ryan’s detention, CBS News reported that a Taliban intelligence official accused him of “anti-state activities,” a charge that the US Department of State has rejected as “baseless.”
In his statement, Mr. McCaul highlighted that Ryan is enduring inhuman conditions, in a tiny cell with “unreliable access” to food and no ability to go outside. “He is fed only scraps to eat, and he has faced solitary confinement for weeks on end. Ryan is facing serious medical conditions, experiencing seizures, and often fainting.”
Earlier, Anna Corbett, Ryan’s wife, also expressed concerns about Mr. Corbett’s well-being while in Taliban custody. She said that she and their children had received a “deeply disturbing call from Ryan,” indicating that he is losing hope.
“We spoke with him for 12 minutes, and it was very clear to me that he is giving up hope, and that was devastating to me,” she told Fox News in March.
Previously, the Taliban’s main spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed that they are holding several foreign citizens, including two US citizens, for “violation of Afghanistan laws.”
While refraining from providing further details about the identities and nationalities of other detainees, the Taliban spokesperson emphasized that anyone entering the country must adhere to its laws and regulations.
