Taliban releases Austrian far-right activist held in Afghanistan
Al Jazeera
Vienna says its national has arrived in Doha after mediation by the Qatari government helped secure his release.
The Taliban has released Herbert Fritz, an 84-year-old Austrian far-right nationalist, who was arrested in Afghanistan last May.
The Austrian government said in a statement on Sunday that Fritz arrived in Doha, Qatar earlier in the day after mediation by the Qatari government helped to secure his release.
Fritz was arrested last year after defying Austria’s long-standing warning against travel to Afghanistan, which in 2021 returned to the rule of the Taliban.
“I think it was bad luck but I want to visit again,” he told reporters on arrival in Doha, when asked about his ordeal.
“There were some nice people but there were some foolish people also, I’m sorry,” Fritz added, describing his captors.
