WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Congress has passed a resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of George Glezmann and all other American citizens and lawful permanent residents detained by the Taliban.
The resolution condemned the arrests as “wrongful detentions.” It noted that Glezmann traveled to Afghanistan in December 2022 for a five-day trip to explore the country’s cultural landscape and history.
“The Taliban detained Glezmann without charging him with a crime or granting him due process in any judicial proceedings,” the resolution stated. It added that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken designated Glezmann as wrongfully detained. Glezmann has reportedly been held in a nine-foot by nine-foot cell with other detainees and subjected to solitary confinement for months at a time.
The Taliban has not allowed Glezmann any consular visits from Department of State personnel. During his detention, Glezmann has had only seven phone calls totaling 54 minutes with his family and limited in-person visits with representatives from Qatar.
The resolution urged the Taliban to respect Glezmann’s human rights and to provide full, unfettered, and consistent health and safety visits while he remains in detention. It also encouraged Qatar to assist in securing his release.
“Glezmann turned 65 years old during his wrongful detention, and his physical and mental health are rapidly declining due to the stress and harsh conditions,” the resolution cited, expressing the family’s fear that he may not survive his detention.
According to a U.S. State Department official quoted by the Washington Examiner, three American citizens are currently held in Taliban custody: George Glezmann, Mahmood Habibi, and Ryan Corbett.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid stated that he discussed the fate of the American prisoners with the U.S. delegation during a two-day meeting in Doha from June 30 to July 1.
