Sunday, June 16, 2024
Islamabad (Urdu Point. DW Urdu. June 16, 2024) A United Nations expert has urged the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan to provide immediate medical assistance to American citizen Ryan Corbett, who has been imprisoned by them for almost two years, in order to improve his health. to avoid irreparable damage or death.
Alice Jill Edwards, the United Nations Special Representative against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, said, "The Taliban must provide Ryan Corbett with medical treatment in a hospital without delay."
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He said aid worker Ryan Corbett had been held without charge in conditions that were "grossly inadequate and well below international standards".
"This situation is taking a significant toll on his (Corbett's) physical and mental health, which is rapidly declining," Edwards added.
This woman expert, a UN chronicler, said that she had raised this issue directly with the Taliban.
"Without proper medical care, he (Corbett) is at risk of irreparable harm or even death," Edwards said. Corbett and his family went to Afghanistan in 2010.
Since then, he worked with non-governmental organizations there and then started his own consulting, micro-financing and project evaluation under the name Bloom Afghanistan to strengthen the country's private sector institutions.
He left Afghanistan with his family after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021.
But he continued to work with his organization and returned to Afghanistan in January 2022 to renew his business visa. Despite having a valid visa, Corbett was arrested by the Taliban in August 2022 when he returned to pay and train his staff, his lawyers said.
A German and two Afghans arrested with Corbett were later released.
United Nations expert Alice Jill Edwards said Corbett was suffering from a number of medical problems, including ringing in the ears and severe weight loss. He has also repeatedly expressed suicidal and self-harming intentions. The US has had no diplomatic presence in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021 and the withdrawal of US troops after 20 years of war.
