GENEVA (Reuters) – The Taliban should present Ryan Corbett, an American held in Afghanistan for practically two years, with speedy medical care to stop irreparable hurt to his well being and even his loss of life, a United Nations knowledgeable mentioned on Thursday.
“The Taliban must provide Ryan Corbett with medical treatment in a civilian hospital without delay,” mentioned Alice Jill Edwards, the U.N. Particular Rapporteur on torture and different merciless, inhuman or degrading therapy or punishment.
Corbett, an help employee, has been held with out cost in circumstances “utterly inadequate and substantially below international standards,” she mentioned.
“This is having a significant impact on his physical and mental health, which is declining rapidly,” added Edwards. She mentioned she had raised the problem immediately with the Taliban.
“Without adequate medical care he is at risk of irreparable harm or even death,” she mentioned.
Corbett and his household moved to Afghanistan in 2010. He labored with non-governmental organisations after which began his personal – Bloom Afghanistan – to bolster the nation’s personal sector via consulting, micro-finance and venture analysis.
He left along with his household following the Taliban takeover in 2021, however he continued working along with his organisation and went again in January 2022 to resume his enterprise visa.
Regardless of having a sound visa, he was arrested by the Taliban in August 2022 after he returned to pay and prepare his employees, his attorneys have mentioned. A German and two Afghans with whom Corbett was arrested have since been launched.
The U.N. knowledgeable mentioned that Corbett has developed a number of medical issues, together with ringing in his ears, and extreme weight reduction. He has additionally repeatedly expressed intentions of suicide and self-harm.
The US has had no diplomatic presence in Kabul because it fell to the Taliban in August 2021 as U.S. troops pulled out after 20 years of warfare.
