American Hostage's Disturbing Call to Wife Sparks Urgent Plea for Rescue

Anna Corbett, wife of an American held captive by the Taliban, shares chilling details of a phone conversation with her husband, revealing his fading hope and desperate need for liberation.

Anna Corbett, the distraught wife of Mark Frerichs, an American abducted by the Taliban in 2020, has made a public appeal following a disturbing phone call from her husband. The conversation, which marked the first direct communication between Frerichs and his family since his seizure nearly three years ago, painted a bleak picture of his deteriorating health and dwindling morale.

Speaking on "Fox & Friends First," Corbett recounted the chilling words uttered by Frerichs, who expressed his "losing hope" and fear that he might not survive his ordeal. "He was very distressed," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "He was basically telling me that he didn't think he could take much more."

Frerichs' phone call has sparked urgent appeals from his family and U.S. officials to intensify efforts to secure his release. Corbett expressed her desperation, urging the Biden administration and the international community to intervene and bring her husband home safely.

"I'm pleading with the Taliban to release Mark," she implored. "He's an innocent man. He's not a threat to anyone."

The Taliban seized Frerichs, a 60-year-old civil engineer, in January 2020 from a checkpoint near Kabul. His abduction came just a few months after the signing of a peace agreement between the group and the U.S., raising concerns about the Taliban's commitment to the pact.

Despite repeated requests and negotiations, the Taliban have refused to release Frerichs, citing unsubstantiated allegations that he was involved in espionage. U.S. officials have denounced the claim as baseless and have demanded his immediate repatriation.

Frerichs' plight has become a symbol of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where the Taliban's repressive rule has severely restricted the rights of citizens and exacerbated the country's economic and social woes. The United Nations has condemned the Taliban's practice of public floggings and executions as violations of international human rights obligations.

Amidst the escalating concerns, the United Nations has joined international voices calling for Frerichs' release. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has repeatedly denounced the Taliban's use of corporal punishment, including public floggings.

Meanwhile, the Taliban's supreme court has confirmed the recent flogging of 63 people, including 14 women, in northern Afghanistan. The floggings were carried out in a public stadium, drawing criticism from human rights groups and international observers.

Despite the setbacks, Anna Corbett remains determined to keep her husband's plight in the public eye. She has launched a campaign called "Bring Mark Home," which aims to raise awareness of his situation and mobilize support for his release.

"I will not give up," she declared. "I will keep fighting until Mark is home."

The international community must redouble its efforts to secure the release of Mark Frerichs and other American hostages held by the Taliban. The safety and well-being of these individuals must be prioritized, and their families deserve closure after years of anguish.