Lawyers representing an American man named Ryan Corbett, who has been held captive by the Taliban for nearly two years, have reached out to a United Nations human rights investigator for assistance. Corbett was abducted in August 2022 while in Afghanistan, where he had been living with his family following the collapse of the U.S.-backed government. He had returned to Afghanistan on a business venture to promote the country’s private sector through consulting services and lending. Since his abduction, Corbett has been moved between multiple prisons and has not been seen by anyone other than his captors since last December.
In a petition sent to the U.N. human rights investigator, lawyers for Corbett describe the cruel and inhumane treatment he has been subjected to while in captivity. They claim that he has been threatened with physical violence and torture, malnourished, deprived of medical care, and held in solitary confinement. His physical and mental health have significantly deteriorated, and he has expressed feelings of anguish and hopelessness during phone calls with his family. The lawyers are urging the investigator to intervene and secure Corbett’s immediate release and freedom from torture as guaranteed by international law.
Corbett has been able to speak with his family by phone five times since his arrest, but they have not been allowed to see him in person. Their accounts of his mistreatment come from conversations with recently released prisoners who were with Corbett, as well as his own openly dispirited tone during phone calls. His wife, Anna, expressed deep concern for her husband’s deteriorating health, both physically and mentally, prompting her to take action and seek assistance from the U.N. investigator in addition to ongoing efforts by the U.S. government to secure Corbett’s release.
The U.S. government has designated Corbett as wrongfully detained and is actively working to bring him home from Afghanistan. State Department officials have been in continuous communication with Afghan authorities in an effort to secure Corbett’s release. The family’s lawyers are also calling for urgent action to address the situation and protect Corbett’s rights under international law. The Interior Ministry in Afghanistan has claimed to have no knowledge of Corbett’s case, adding to the complexity and uncertainty surrounding his situation.
Corbett and his family had initially relocated to Afghanistan in 2010, where he supervised several non-governmental organizations. Forced to leave Afghanistan in August 2021 when the Taliban seized control of Kabul, Corbett returned to the country in January 2022 to renew his business visa. The family was nervous about his return due to the unstable situation in Afghanistan, but Corbett proceeded with his business activities, which included consulting services and microfinance lending. His abduction in August 2022 during a trip to Jawzjan province marked a turning point in his ordeal, leaving his family anxious and uncertain about his fate.
Anna Corbett, who has three teenage children with Ryan, has been advocating for her husband’s release while managing her own anxiety and the impact of the situation on their family. The uncertainty and trauma caused by Corbett’s captivity have taken a toll on all of them, with regular trips to Washington to seek support and updates on the case. She is trying to protect her children from the full extent of the situation while also pushing for action and assistance from relevant authorities. As the legal and diplomatic efforts continue to seek Corbett’s release, his family remains hopeful for a positive outcome and his safe return home.
