Saturday 13 August 2022 04:16 PM Former Australian Taliban hostage Timothy Weeks returned to Kabul, Afghanistan ... trends now
An Australian academic who was held hostage by the Taliban for three years returned to Afghanistan to complete his 'journey' and support the militant group.
Timothy Weeks was photographed arriving in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday afternoon and hugging Khalid Zadran, a Taliban police spokesman.
Mr Weeks has been an avid supporter of the Taliban since converting to Islamic faith in May 2018 while held as a hostage between August 2016 and November 2019.
Upon his arrival, Mr Weeks hugged Khalid Zadran (above), a Taliban police spokesman, and announced he is there to 'celebrate the one-year anniversary of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan'
He converted then his name to Jibra'il Omar in line with his new faith. He claims that the new name symbolises his belief that an archangel was watching over him during his time as a hostage of the Taliban.
Upon his arrival in Afghanistan, Mr Weeks told reporters his trip back to Afghanistan was part of his 'journey'.
'I first came to Afghanistan six years ago as you know, in 2016, and I came here with a dream to learn about Afghanistan. Now I'm coming again to complete my journey,' he told Afghan outlet Tolo News.
'I'm also coming to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan who I have stood behind.
'I spent three and a half years with Taliban soldiers, and I saw these people in a light that nobody else has been able to.'
Timothy Weeks (above), and Australian academic who was held hostage by the Taliban from August 2016 to November 2019, returned to Kabul on Friday
Upon his arrival back in Sydney after he was freed from the Taliban in exchange for three high-ranking Taliban officials, Mr Weeks (pictured with his sisters) said his time as a prisoner 'had a profound and unimaginable effect'
Timothy Weeks was captured as a Taliban hostage alongside American academic Kevin King while teaching English at the American University of Afghanistan (pictured, Mr Weeks, left, and Mr King, right, in 2017 during their imprisonment)
Mr Weeks was taken hostage by the Taliban in Kabul on August 9, 2016, after arriving 33 days earlier to teach English at the American University of Afghanistan.
He and American academic Kevin King were released in exchange for three high-ranking Taliban officials in November, 2019.
When he arrived in Sydney following his release, Mr Weeks said: 'The time I spent as hostage with the Taliban has had a profound and unimaginable effect on me.
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