Afghanistan’s Taliban government announced the release of US citizen Dennis Coyle, detained for more than a year. The linguist and researcher was freed following a family request to Afghanistan’s supreme leader. He has now been reunited with his family in Kabul, officials said.
The release followed a meeting involving Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, US former special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, the UAE ambassador to Kabul Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi, and a family member. The UAE helped facilitate Coyle’s release, according to the Afghan foreign ministry.
Coyle, 64, was arrested in January 2025 while working legally as an academic researcher supporting Afghan communities. His family stated he endured near-solitary confinement with limited medical care, requiring permission for basic activities such as using the bathroom.
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A website set up by his family highlighted Coyle’s long-term engagement in Afghanistan. He has studied the country’s linguistic diversity since the early 2000s and built deep relationships with Afghan communities. His work combined professional research with personal ties, fostering cultural understanding.
The release comes amid US-Afghan negotiations over “wrongful detentions,” with Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally placing Afghanistan on the US list. Previous US citizen releases were conducted as “goodwill gestures,” with Qatar often serving as a mediator.