Faye Hall, Detained US Citizen, Released by Taliban After Two-Month Ordeal

Faye Hall has been released from Taliban custody after two months, as calls grow for the release of her detained companions, a British couple operating educational programs for women and girls in Afghanistan.

Faye Hall, an American citizen, has been freed by the Taliban after two months in detention, according to Zalmay Khalilzad, the former US envoy to Kabul, who confirmed the news on the social media platform X. Hall was initially arrested in February during her travels with a British couple, Barbie and Peter Reynolds, both in their seventies, and their Afghan interpreter. The Reynolds are well-known for their commitment to providing training programs for women and girls in Afghanistan, opting to remain in the country after the Taliban regained control. The reasons for their arrest remain undisclosed by Afghan officials.

Former Ambassador Khalilzad expressed gratitude to Qatar for its role as a mediator, stating that Hall would soon return to the United States. She is currently under the protection of Qatari authorities. This release marks the fourth American citizen to be freed by the Taliban since January, following efforts by Qatar to broker agreements. Just days prior to Hall’s release, George Glezmann, an airline mechanic, was also freed in what the Taliban described as a “goodwill gesture” on humanitarian grounds.

These developments come on the heels of high-level discussions between US officials and Taliban representatives in Kabul, the first direct talks since the Biden administration took office. During Donald Trump’s presidency, agreements were made that ultimately led to the withdrawal of US troops, criticized for sidestepping the Afghan government, which was subsequently overthrown by the Taliban.

The Reynolds couple, who met in university and married in Kabul in 1970, have dedicated their lives to educational initiatives in Afghanistan. As the Taliban regained power, they chose to stay behind, believing their mission to help locals was more critical than their own safety. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle, expressed deep concern for her father's health, stating he suffers from multiple medical issues while incarcerated, including serious infections and alleged physical abuse. She has made a heartfelt plea to the Taliban for their release so that he may receive necessary medical care back home.