Washington D.C. – Newsnation, Mar. 12, 2026
The sister of an American hostage in Afghanistan has praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his contributions to help bring her brother home.
Dennis Coyle, 64, was forcibly removed from his apartment by Taliban forces in January 2024 after spending nearly two decades in Afghanistan studying the country’s languages and assisting local communities. He has been held in complete isolation in a basement, required to ask permission even to use the bathroom, his family said.
Coyle spent nearly 20 years in Afghanistan conducting academic research and assisting the Afghan community. His three sisters and 83-year-old mother lost all contact with him for nine months before learning he was alive.
The U.S. government has declared Coyle wrongfully detained, a designation that prioritizes efforts to secure his release.
