Australian who survived Taliban captivity passes away in Afghanistan
Jibra’il Omar, an Australian citizen previously known as Timothy Weeks, has passed away in Afghanistan at the age of 55 due to cancer.
Omar gained international attention after being kidnapped in 2016 while working as an English lecturer at the American University in Kabul.
After being held captive by the Taliban for over three years, he was released in 2019 in a prisoner exchange. Following his release, he embraced the culture and religion of the country where he had been imprisoned.
Anas Haqqani, a senior Taliban official who was also released in the same prisoner exchange as Jibra’il Omar, shared a moving tribute to Omar upon his passing.
Expressing his sorrow on social media, Haqqani reflected on their shared experiences and the strong connection they had formed.
“Though Timothy Weeks and I started our journeys in different times and places, fate brought us together at a crucial moment where my death became his, and our lives became intertwined. Together, we passed through challenges and obstacles,” Haqqani wrote on social media.
Omar’s life in Afghanistan post-release was marked by his deep integration into Afghan culture. Haqqani described how Omar, once a stranger, had found a sense of belonging in Afghanistan and lived as a local.
“Jibra’il left the land of his birth and began a new chapter with us,” Haqqani shared.
“He embraced our culture, wore Afghan clothing, and navigated the streets of our land, proving that the bond of faith and belief is stronger than any other connection.”
Captivity and Release
Weeks was abducted alongside his American colleague Kevin King near their university in Kabul. The Haqqani Network, a Taliban-affiliated armed group, captured them and subjected them to harsh conditions including beatings, malnourishment, and solitary confinement.
Their situation gained global attention in 2017 when a video was released showing the two men begging for their release.
An attempted rescue by U.S. Navy SEALs early in their captivity was unsuccessful. However, in 2019, both Weeks and King were released in a negotiated prisoner exchange involving three senior members of the Haqqani Network.
Despite his hardships, Weeks publicly admired the resilience of his captors and spoke of his spiritual transformation as a result of his experiences.
After his release, Weeks converted to Islam, took on the name Jibra’il Omar, and returned to Afghanistan in 2022, a year after the Taliban regained power in the country.
Upon his arrival in Kabul, he embraced traditional Afghan attire and reaffirmed his love for the nation, declaring his return as a completion of his journey.
