From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kidnapping and hostage taking has become a common occurrence in Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Kidnappers include Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters and common criminal elements.
The following is a list of known foreign hostages in Afghanistan.
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(killed-free-unknown)
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[edit] 1 Released
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[edit] 1 Released
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- A Red Cross worker was kidnapped by Taliban along with two Afghans and a Macedonian citizen in Wardak Province on September 26, 2007, while working to secure the release of the German hostage Rudolf Blechschmidt. They were freed on September 29, 2007.[2]
[edit] 1 Released
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[edit] 1 Released
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- A worker for a Chinese road building firm was kidnapped by unknown militants on June 29, 2008, while driving towards his company's camp in Wardak Province. He was freed on July 27, 2008.[3]
[edit] 1 Released
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[edit] 5 Released
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- Eric Damfreville and Céline Cordelier, workers for Terre d'Enfance, were kidnapped with three Afghan aid workers on April 3, 2007 in Nimruz Province. Cordelier was released on April 28, 2007, and Damfreville on May 11, 2007.[5]
- Johan Freckhaus, a businessman, was abducted in the Gailan District of Ghazni Province on May 29, 2008. He has been released safely along with two Afghan colleagues on June 19, 2008.[6]
- Two employees of the French aid organisation Action Contre La Faim (ACF) were taken hostage by gunmen on July 18, 2008. They were freed on August 1, 2008.
[edit] 1 Unknown
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- An aid worker, who works for a non-governmental organisation, was abducted by gunmen in Kabul, while an Afghan man who tried to save the worker was shot dead on November 3, 2008.[7]
[edit] 4 Released
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- Norbert W., an engineer of a U.S. construction company, was kidnapped by criminals on June 28, 2007, in Farah Province. After a $40000 ransom were paid, Norbert was released one week later, on July 5, 2007.
- Christina Meier, an aid worker for ora international, was kidnapped in Kabul on August 18, 2007, and appeared on a video the next day calling for the release of prisoners. Christina was freed on August 19, 2007 after Norwegian special forces helped Afghan National Police in storming the kidnappers' hiding place in Kabul.[8]
- Rudolf Blechschmidt, an engineer, was kidnapped by the group of Taliban warlord Mullah Nissam Udin on July 18, 2007, along with his colleague Ruediger Diedrich in Wardak Province. He was released on September 26, 2007, but was recaptured shortly thereafter. Rudolf was finally released on October 10, 2007, after Germany had paid a $600000 ransom and the Afghan government had released four prisoners.[9]
- Hadschi Asisullah, a German-Afghan businessman, was kidnapped in Kabul on July 25, 2008. He was freed by Afghan intelligence agents in Parwan Province on August 7, 2008. Three abductors were arrested.[10]
[edit] 2 Killed
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- Ruediger Diedrich, an engineer, was kidnapped by the group of Taliban warlord Mullah Nissam Udin on July 18, 2007, along with his colleague Rudolf Blechschmidt in Wardak Province. Ruediger was found dead of gunshot wounds on July 21, 2007.[11]
- Harald Kleber, worked for Gruenhelme, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Herat Province on December 16, 2007. On March 15, 2008, the abductors demanded a $50000 ransom for his release. It is believed that Harald was killed sometime after that because the ransom was not paid. His body was found on October 8, 2008.[12]
[edit] 3 Released
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[edit] 2 Killed
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[edit] 5 Released
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- Clementina Cantoni, a worker for CARE International, was kidnapped in Kabul on May 16, 2005, apparently by a criminal gang. She was released on June 9, 2005.
- Gabriele Torsello, a freelance journalist, was kidnapped in Helmand Province on October 12, 2006, and released on November 3, 2006.
- Daniele Mastrogiacomo, a journalist, was kidnapped on March 5, 2007, along with an Afghan journalist and his driver. Both Afghans were beheaded. Mastrogiacomo was released on March 19, 2007.
- Lorenzo D'Auria, an intelligence agent, was kidnapped on September 26, 2007, with a compatriot, while on patrol in Herat Province. On September 27, 2007, the NATO-led force had freed them. D'Auria died on October 4, 2007, of wounds sustained during the rescue operation by ISAF/Coalition troops.
[edit] 3 Killed
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- Jun Fukusho and Shinobu Hasegawa, two teachers who wanted to go sightseeing in Afghanistan, went missing after entering the country on August 8, 2005. They were found dead on September 1, 2005.[16]
- Kazuya Ito, 31, and his Afghan driver/translator were abducted in August 26, 2008, as he was on his way to inspect an irrigation project in the area. The driver/translator was released later. Ito's body was found in August 27, 2008. He was beaten to death with a rock and had been shot in the leg.[17]
[edit] 4 Killed
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- Fadil Zenuni, Lulzam Fidani, Besim Aliu and Sabid Tahiri, employees of Ecolog, were kidnapped on March 11, 2006, and found dead on March 20, 2006.[18]
[edit] 1 Released
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- A Red Cross worker was kidnapped by Taliban along with two Afghans and a Burmese citizen in Wardak Province on September 26, 2007, while working to secure the release of the German hostage Rudolf Blechschmidt. They were freed on September 29, 2007.[19]
[edit] 1 Released
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- K.B. Gurung, working for a Dubai-based company, was along with his Indian colleague and Afghan driver on April 21, 2008, in Herat Province. They was freed on May 18, 2008.[20]
[edit] 1 Released
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- A Dutch journalist was kidnapped by suspected Taliban rebels on November 1, 2008. The woman was released on November 7, 2008.
[edit] 1 Released
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[edit] 1 Released
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- Tariq Azizuddin, Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan, was kidnapped by suspected Taliban militants along with his driver and his bodyguard on February 11, 2008, in the border area between the two countries, en route to the Afghan capital, Kabul. They were freed in a prisoner swap on May 15, 2008.[21]
[edit] 1 Released
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[edit] 1 Released
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[edit] 2 Killed and 21 Released
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[edit] 3 Released
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- Hassan Onal, an engineer working on a highway, was kidnapped by Taleban in southern Afghanistan on October 30, 2003. He was released on November 30, 2003.
- Two engineers, working at a construction project, were kidnapped by a group of gunmen in Herat Province on July 14, 2008. They was released on July 20, 2008.[22]
[edit] 1 Killed
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[edit] 1 Released
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[edit] 1 Killed
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- Cydney Mizell, an aid worker, was kidnapped along with her Afghan driver Muhammad Hadi on January 26, 2008, in a residential neighborhood of Kandahar. On February 26, 2008, it was reported that the two were killed. The organization they worked for says the two are believed to be dead.[24]
[edit] 1 Released
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- An American, working for the Army Corps of Engineers, was abducted in mid-August by the Taliban. He was rescued on October 22, 2008, by U.S. special forces soldiers conducting a daring nighttime operation.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
Foreign hostages in Afghanistan - Related Items
Foreign hostages in Afghanistan - In the news
