Before his arrest, Herbert Fritz wrote an article in far-right magazine, titled “Vacation with the Taliban,” in which he portrayed a favorable image of life under Taliban rule

An 84-year-old Austrian national, Herbert Fritz, who undertook a journey to Afghanistan last year intending to portray it as a secure destination for travel, has been released by the Taliban and has safely arrived in Doha, Qatar. The Austrian government confirmed his arrival on Sunday afternoon.

Fritz, sharing his thoughts with reporters in Doha, reflected on his experience, stating, “I think it was bad luck, but I want to visit again.” He acknowledged encountering both amiable and misguided individuals during his stay in Afghanistan.

In the past year, Fritz, a seasoned far-right extremist and co-founder of the now-banned National Democratic Party, had presented a positive perspective on life in Afghanistan, contributing to an anti-immigration narrative suggesting the country was safe for refugees. The Taliban detained him on suspicion of espionage.

Der Standard, an Austrian newspaper, disclosed that Fritz had been in custody for several weeks following the publication of a far-right magazine article titled “Vacation with the Taliban,” in which he portrayed a favorable image of life under Taliban rule.

According to the report, he was accused of spying, and Austrian neo-Nazis made his case public via Telegram channels.

Fritz, had previously traveled to Afghanistan in the 1980s and, more recently, to northern Syria to support Kurds fighting against the Islamic State group.

The Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance, an organization monitoring far-right activities, identified Fritz as an active participant in extreme-right political circles.

His release was facilitated through successful mediation by Qatar.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed gratitude to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his team for their robust support in securing Fritz’s release.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude on X (Twitter) for the caretaker government in Afghanistan for releasing the Austrian.

“The State of Qatar has proven, regionally and globally, that it is a trusted international partner in various important issues,” the ministry said. “It spares no effort in harnessing its energy and ability in the areas of mediation, preventive diplomacy, and settling disputes through peaceful means.”

On a separate note, Qatar has indeed played a role in securing Israeli hostages and is involved in ongoing mediation between Hamas and the government of Israel in the current brutal conflict being waged in the Middle East.