Dennis Coyle Release Taliban US Afghanistan Humanitarian Release US Citizen Freed — Dennis Coyle appears relieved after his release at Kabul airport, marking a long-awaited return home.

Afghanistan to release detained American citizen, officials confirm

Taliban releases US researcher Dennis Coyle after more than a year in detention, aided by UAE mediation.

By Fahad Last updated Mar 24, 2026

Afghanistan – (Web Desk) – Afghanistan’s Taliban government said on Tuesday it would release a US citizen who had been detained for over a year. His family had sent a letter asking for his freedom.

The man, Dennis Coyle, is a linguist and researcher. The government said his time in detention was long enough and he would be released as a gesture for Eid.

The announcement came after a meeting with Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, US former envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, the UAE ambassador Saif Mohammed Al-Ketbi, and a family member. The UAE helped with the release, and the government said it was done for humanitarian reasons and goodwill.

Coyle, 64, looked relieved at a short news conference at Kabul airport. Khalilzad called his release a “very positive development” and praised the authorities for the decision.

Meanwhile, the family of another Afghan held at Guantanamo Bay renewed their call for his release. Ibrahim Rahim said he had sent a letter through Khalilzad to US President Donald Trump, asking for his father, Muhammad Rahim, to be freed for medical reasons. Muhammad Rahim has been held at Guantanamo since 2008.

Coyle, from Colorado, was arrested in January 2025. His family website said he had been legally working as an academic researcher to support Afghan communities. They said he was held in near-solitary conditions, with restricted access to basic needs and medical care.

Coyle first visited Afghanistan in the early 2000s to study its languages and help communities develop local resources. The family said he built strong, personal relationships with the Afghan people and loved them deeply.

Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Afghanistan was on the US list of countries involved in “wrongful detentions.” Afghan authorities called that statement “regrettable” and highlighted talks and past releases through mediators from Qatar.

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In 2025, the Taliban released five American citizens as a “goodwill gesture.” Last year, two Afghan former prisoners who had been held at Guantanamo until 2017 were welcomed home, more than 20 years after their arrests.