Washington, D.C. – March 24, 2026 – Hostage Aid Worldwide welcomes the release of American academic Dennis Coyle after more than a year in Taliban custody. A long-overdue outcome that underscores both meaningful progress and a clear truth: when state and non-state actors are held accountable for the wrongful detention of Americans abroad, results follow. In this case, Dennis is finally home.
Last September, President Donald J. Trump issued the Executive Order to Protect U.S. Nationals from Wrongful Detention Abroad, affirming the United States Government’s commitment to use every available tool to counter the coercive practice of wrongful detention employed by foreign adversaries and to hold those responsible accountable. Congress reinforced that commitment with the passage of the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025.
Under this authority, the Secretary of State formally designated Afghanistan as a State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention, a necessary step in confronting a growing and systematic threat.
Dennis Coyle was detained on January 27, 2025, by the Taliban while legally working to support Afghan language communities as an academic researcher. In June 2025, the U.S. Department of State designated him as wrongfully detained. He was held in near-solitary conditions for 421 days before being released.
“Dennis’s return sends a clear message: wrongful detention of Americans will not go unanswered,” said President of Hostage Aid Worldwide. “This outcome is the result of relentless advocacy, the strength of his family, and a growing willingness to impose real consequences on those who engage in these abuses.”
“We honor the extraordinary courage of Dennis’s loved ones, who refused to stay silent and fought tirelessly for his freedom. But we cannot lose sight of those who are still missing. Among them is Paul Overby, an American author whose disappearance has stretched on for more than a decade. Year after year, his case remains unresolved, his fate unknown. That silence is unacceptable, and heartbreaking. It demands answers. No American should ever be left behind or forgotten. We sincerely hope that President Trump will be the one to finally bring all Americans detained in Afghanistan home.”
Hostage Aid applauds the efforts of the United States Government in securing Dennis’s release, as well as the critical mediation of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. We call on the Trump administration and Secretary Marco Rubio to continue down the path of sustained pressure and accountability for those responsible for the wrongful detention of Americans abroad.
