Habibi Family Says Kuil’s Release Brings New Hope for Mahmood Habibi’s Freedom

The family of Mahmood Habibi, an Afghan-American citizen, has welcomed the release of Dennis Kuil and called for the immediate release of Habibi from Taliban detention. In a statement released by Global Reach, the Habibi family expressed happiness over Kuil’s release but said they remain concerned about Mahmood Habibi’s situation, noting that he has been in detention since August 10, 2022. His brother, Ahmad Habibi, said, “We were happy to hear the news of Dennis’s release, and we hope my brother will also return home soon.” He emphasized that, according to U.S. officials, there is evidence showing that the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence detained Mahmood Habibi. Meanwhile, Erik Lebson, Senior Director of Strategy at Global Reach, described Kuil’s release as “a step in the right direction,” but stressed that all detained U.S. citizens should be freed. The organization also referred to the United States’ decision to designate Afghanistan under Taliban control as a “state responsible for wrongful detentions,” calling it a tool to increase pressure on the Taliban.