An undated picture of Mark Frerichs, the U.S. veteran who was captured by the Taliban and was lately freed in a prisoner swap. Charlene Cakora, Related Press
The Biden administration has negotiated the discharge of an American man held hostage by the Taliban.
Who's Mark Frerichs?
Mark Frerichs, a Navy veteran, was residing in Afghanistan as a civilian contractor when he was kidnapped in January 2020, based on The Related Press.
Frerichs was launched in trade for an Afghan tribal chief, Bashir Noorzai, who was imprisoned by the U.S. for drug smuggling. The tribal chief had ties to the Taliban and had been held by the ussince 2005, based on Reuters.
“Bringing the negotiations that led to Mark’s freedom to a profitable decision required tough selections, which I didn't take calmly,” President Joe Biden mentioned in an announcement on the deal, based on CBS Information.
“Our precedence now's to verify Mark receives a wholesome and secure return and is given the area and time he must transition again into society,” Biden mentioned.
Whereas there have been no allegations that Noorzai killed Individuals, federal prosecutors did discover that his drug smuggling community has induced loads of injury. Noorzai has massive energy over a serious a part of the world’s heroin commerce, based on NBC Information.
This negotiation is likely one of the main prisoner swaps within the Biden administration to this point. AP reported that this deal got here after a separate deal was made with Russia to launch Trevor Reed, a Marine veteran, earlier this 12 months. Regardless of these offers, many individuals are hoping that the Biden administration will proceed to carry Individuals residence.
Ridge Alkonis case
The Deseret Information reported that the household of U.S. Navy lieutenant Ridge Alkonis remains to be working to carry him residence whereas he serves a three-year jail sentence in Japan.
“Lt. Ridge Alkonis is a hero. Somebody who’s served his nation properly. ... He’s among the finest and the brightest. And we'd like him. We want him, and (his spouse) Brittany and their youngsters want him again in america,” Sen. Mike Lee mentioned throughout a current rally.
Lee additional inspired Biden to satisfy with the Alkonis household, hearken to their story and be motivated to motion.
“As a navy father, I’m assured when (Biden) meets Brittany Alkonis, all she wants is 10 minutes, when he meets her, when he hears his story, this story will contact him deeply and inspire him to motion,” Lee mentioned.