The Austrian government announced on Sunday that an 84-year-old Austrian national, Herbert Fritz, who was detained last year during a visit to Afghanistan, has been freed by the Taliban authorities.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry stated that Fritz landed in Doha, Qatar from Afghanistan on Sunday afternoon and may receive medical attention if needed before his return to Austria.
The ministry’s spokeswoman informed the Associated Press that Fritz was imprisoned in Kabul. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed his gratitude on X (formerly known as Twitter) to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his team for their pivotal role in securing the release of the Austrian citizen, emphasizing that the successful collaboration ensured the citizen’s reunion with his family.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the Afghan interim government’s cooperation in the release and highlighted Qatar’s commitment to international diplomacy and peace efforts on its X account.
Reports from Der Standard last year indicated that Fritz, identified as a former far-right extremist and a founding member of the now-banned National Democratic Party, was arrested shortly after publishing an article that depicted life under Taliban rule in a positive light.
The article, titled “Vacation with the Taliban,” led to accusations of espionage, and his detention was made known through neo-Nazi channels on Telegram.
The Taliban, having taken over Afghanistan in 2021 amid the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, have reintroduced strict measures, particularly affecting women and girls’ participation in public life and education.
Fritz, known for his travels to conflict zones, had previously visited Afghanistan in the 1980s and Kurdish regions in northern Syria.
The specifics of his detention location in Afghanistan were not disclosed by Austrian authorities, only mentioning his arrival in the country last May.
