POLITICS: American Dennis Coyle marks 1 year of detention in Afghanistan – USSA News

Monday marks one year since Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old academic from Colorado, was taken by force from his Kabul apartment by the Taliban. His abduction came just six days after another American, Ryan Corbett, was released at the start of President Trump’s second term.

Coyle, who spent nearly two decades in Afghanistan conducting language research, is being held by the Taliban General Directorate of Intelligence in near-solitary confinement with no charges filed, according to his family. Coyle’s capture so soon after Corbett’s release illustrates the ongoing risks faced by Americans in Afghanistan, even those with long-standing legal status and deep ties to local communities.

“Dennis is a gentle, soft-spoken man who always listens deeply to others, often over a comforting cup of hot green tea, embodying the Afghan cultural emphasis of hospitality and respectful presence,” Molly Long, one of Coyle’s sisters, told CBS News. “In his nearly two decades in Afghanistan, Dennis faithfully honored the Afghan cultural values of hospitality and kindness.”

Coyle’s mother, Donna, 83, and his three sisters, Molly, Amy and Patti, have said the isolation has been crushing. He has missed births, family celebrations, and everyday moments. According to the family, Coyle is confined to a basement room, where he must ask permission to use the bathroom.

“This past year has been incredibly challenging for our family, as we’ve become entangled in the abhorrent practice of hostage diplomacy amid my brother’s wrongful detainment by the Taliban since January 27, 2025,” Long said. “We are deeply grateful for the broad bipartisan support we’ve received for President Trump to wield the formidable strength of the United States — as he has done so effectively in securing the release of over 90 hostages in Gaza, Venezuela, and around the world — to bring our brother home.”