Home / Crime and Justice / Taliban Commander Gets 42 Years for Hostage Taking
Taliban Commander Gets 42 Years for Hostage Taking
10 Jun
Summary
- Taliban commander Haji Najibullah received a 42-year prison sentence.
- He pleaded guilty to hostage taking and supporting terrorism.
- The charges include the 2008 abduction of an American journalist.
Haji Najibullah, a Taliban commander, was sentenced to 42 years in federal prison on Tuesday. He had pleaded guilty to hostage-taking and providing material support for terrorism.
The charges stemmed from his role in the 2008 abduction of David Rohde, a reporter for The New York Times, along with an Afghan journalist and their driver. These individuals were held for seven months in a Taliban-controlled region of Pakistan.
Prosecutors detailed the "casual brutality" and "psychological torture" inflicted during the captivity. They also highlighted Najibullah's responsibility for an attack that killed three U.S. service members and an Afghan interpreter in 2008.
Najibullah's defense team argued for a lesser sentence, citing his remorse and limited role. He addressed the court, apologizing to Mr. Rohde for his "terrible" experience. Mr. Rohde also spoke, recounting the pain of the victims' families.
