Taliban Releases American Academic Dennis Coyle After Over a Year in Detention
Afghanistan’s Taliban government on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, announced the release of U.S. Citizen Dennis Coyle, an academic who had been detained in the country for more than a year. The release came on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
The Taliban’s foreign ministry stated it agreed to Coyle’s release following a letter from his family, and that he “would be pardoned and released” for Eid . The U.S. State Department later confirmed Coyle’s release.
Family’s Relief and Gratitude
Coyle’s family expressed overwhelming gratitude, stating, “Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Dennis’ life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 421 days of our lives.”
Negotiations and Mediation
A Taliban senior official involved in prisoner negotiations revealed that talks between the Taliban and the U.S. Had been ongoing since the last week of February . The release was facilitated with the assist of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates .
Background of the Detention
Dennis Coyle, a 64-year-old academic from Pueblo, Colorado, was taken by force from his Kabul apartment by the Taliban in January 2025 . Afghan authorities accused him of violating unspecified laws. His detention followed shortly after the release of another American, Ryan Corbett .
Recognition and Diplomatic Efforts
Coyle’s family expressed gratitude to former President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, leaders in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and others involved in securing his release. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the release, noting it was a positive step towards ending “hostage diplomacy” .
The U.S. State Department designated Afghanistan as a “sponsor of wrongful detention” earlier this month, accusing it of engaging in “hostage diplomacy” .
Ongoing Cases and Future Negotiations
While Coyle has been released, the Taliban continues to hold at least one other U.S. National, Mahmood Habibi, who was abducted in 2022 . The Taliban also holds the remains of American Paul Overby and another unnamed U.S. Citizen.
The Taliban official indicated that the release of Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, a Guantanamo Bay detainee, remains a condition for further releases, but the U.S. Has not yet acted on earlier commitments .
Coyle arrived in the United Arab Emirates shortly after his release .
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