DOHA: An Austrian far-right extremist who traveled Afghanistan to prove that it was a safe country was freed by Taliban on Sunday after nine months of detention in the country.
According to Austrian media Herbert Fritz, 84, who has close contacts to the far-right extremist scene, reached in the Qatari capital Doha after being released by Taliban authorities.
He was arrested in May after rejecting Austria’s long-standing warning against travel to Afghanistan.
Fritz told journalist on arrival in Doha, that he had bad luck but wanted to visit the country again.
He added that there were some nice people over there but there were some foolish people also.
Austrian authorities thanked Qatar, for supporting Fritz’s release and said he may receive medical treatment in Doha before flying back to home.
Trying to prove that Taliban-ruled Afghanistan is a safe country, Fritz travelled there last year and wrote an article titled “Vacations with the Taliban”. He was arrested in Afghanistan on suspicion of espionage.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, thanked the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for Doha’s r strong support in releasing of one of Vienna’s citizens from jail in Afghanistan.
“It is only due to our trusted collaboration that this Austrian citizen will be able to return home to his daughter and grandchildren,” Nehammer said.
