UN help sought for release of American held by Taliban

WASHINGTON: Lawyers for Ryan Corbett, an American held by the Taliban for nearly two years without charge, on Thursday sought U.N. help to secure his immediate release, contending that he has been tortured and is suffering physical and mental health problems.

The lawyers filed urgent petitions with the Geneva-based U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards and the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention arguing that Corbett’s fundamental rights have been violated, justifying U.N. action on his case.

They urged Edwards to “urgently reach out to the Taliban to secure Mr. Corbett’s immediate release and freedom from torture”.