Relatives and some US politicians in a gathering called for the release of American citizen Ryan Corbett from detention in Afghanistan.

Ryan was detained on 10 August 2022 after he returned to Afghanistan.

Ryan and his family lived in Afghanistan for more than a decade as he had started a business in the country, according to FOX News.

They left Afghanistan during the withdrawal of American troops in August 2021.

“He has changed so much. He has aged a lot and lost a lot of weight, and I am so scared,” said Anna Corbett, Ryan’s husband, as quoted by Fox News.  

According to the report, Anna Corbett has spoken to her husband three times since his detention and that the last time was on Christmas.

“He was asking why is this taking so long? Why am I still here?” she said.

New York representative, Claudia Tinney, said: “Rayan is being held in a 9 by 9 foot basement cell. He does not have regular access to a bathroom, sunlight, adequate nutrition or medical care.”

Pennsylvania Republican representative Dan Muser, said that the US should cut off all aid to the “Taliban” until Corbett is freed.

“Let’s not continue sending American taxpayer dollars while we are having American held in this brutal situation,” he said.

The Islamic Emirate has not commented on the remarks of the US congress members and relatives of Corbett.

The analysts said that the exchange of prisoners based on international norms is an acceptable principle.

“The exchange of the prisoners between the two countries is an acceptable principle and it is an engagement. This process has a historical background. But it happens when both countries agree,” said Aziz Maarij, international relations analyst.

Earlier, the Islamic Emirate’s leader in an audio message said that the US demands for the release of its two citizens were received, but they will not be freed until Washington releases an Afghan national held in the US.