The family of Abdul Rauf, who was abducted nearly two years ago in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, said that his kidnappers have threatened to amputate Rauf’s hand if they are not provided with the ransom money.  

Rauf, 11, was kidnapped while he was on his way to school in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province two years ago. He has remained in the custody of the kidnappers since then.  

The parents of Rauf came to Kabul to seek the government’s help in the rescue of their child. The family blamed the former and current government for failing to rescue him. 

“Now that the Islamic Emirate has come into power, why has (Rauf) not been found?… the governor belongs to the Islamic Emirate and so does the provincial commander of intelligence. Why has he still not been found within the past seven months?” said Haji Nabi, father of Rauf.  

Zahra, Rauf’s mother, who counts the days that she has been separated from her son, says that if anything happens to Rauf, the Islamic Emirate will be responsible for it.  

“They said if that if we don’t pay them the ransom, they will cut the hand off of dear Abdul Rauf. He is an innocent child. Does the Islamic Emirate’s supreme leader have eyes to see and ears to listen?” she said. 

The Islamic Emirate has yet to comment.