In a heartfelt plea outside the White House, Anna Corbett is calling for urgent government intervention to free her husband, Ryan Corbett, from Taliban custody in Afghanistan.
According to the New York Post, Anna Corbett has been relentlessly seeking to garner the Biden Administration's attention to secure her husband's release, detained for two years without formal charges.
Ryan Corbett, a 41-year-old American, was arrested with three associates, including a German citizen and two Afghans, during a business trip in northern Afghanistan. This incident occurred shortly after a US drone strike killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in late July 2022.
Ryan had lived in Kabul for over a decade, working for local NGOs before starting a consultative business centered around microloans. Despite a high-level travel advisory warning Americans against returning to Afghanistan, he went back after the chaotic US withdrawal in August 2021 to support his local staff.
Following his re-entry, the Taliban apprehended Ryan, accusing him of anti-state activities—a claim vehemently denied by his family. While his associates have since been released, Ryan remains in custody, purportedly held in a windowless basement cell and suffering from malnourishment.
The lack of response from the US government has left Anna Corbett, who had initially met with national security adviser Jake Sullivan with promises of follow-up, struggling for recognition and action.
She claimed that despite numerous attempts to reconnect and escalate her husband's dire situation, her efforts have been met with silence. Scheduled follow-ups have been unfulfilled, heightening her frustration.
Out of desperation, Anna recorded a video right outside the White House, calling out the apparent inaction. In a poignant address, she said, "I am standing just yards away from the West Wing of the White House, where the president is sitting and where national security adviser Jake Sullivan is also sitting."
Anna further reflected on her interactions with high-level officials, articulating the profound disappointments and broken promises:
When I met with [Sullivan] in January, he said that he would meet with me again by the State of the Union if Ryan wasn’t home. I have written emails, I have asked to meet with him — they’ve all been ignored. He broke his promise to me. Please meet with me and do everything you can to bring Ryan home as soon as possible.
Anna’s solo endeavors underscore a broader issue articulated in her call to action—notably that rescue efforts should be equitable and not just focused on high-profile cases.
Reports describe Ryan as "weak" and "deteriorating,” conditions that worry Anna even more. She fears for his life, stating, "He is definitely weakening, and his health is deteriorating rapidly."
The intensity of the situation and the delay in any form of governmental response have propelled Anna to take her plea public, emphasizing that her husband's plight deserves as much attention as any other American detained abroad.
Anna Corbett’s fight to bring her husband home highlights a significant challenge in international diplomacy and human rights. Her solo cry for help resonates with a piercing clarity, aiming to rouse the corridors of power into action before it's too late. While the White House has yet to respond publicly to her latest plea, the situation remains a poignant reminder of the personal stakes at play in geopolitical conflicts.
