Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed Monday that a Canadian citizen identified as Colin Rutherford is missing in Afghanistan. The department also acknowledged Rutherford appeared in a video released by the Taliban on Sunday. In the video, the 26-year-old said he was visiting Afghanistan because he is interested in the country’s history. The Taliban accuses him of being a spy.
“Canadian officials are working with Afghan authorities to assist the family in securing the safe release of their loved one. We ask that the media respect the privacy of the family. The Canadian government will not comment on efforts to assist the family in securing Mr. Rutherford's safe release,” Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Monette told Postmedia News.
Rutherford, an auditor, was kidnapped in Ghazni province in February. A Taliban spokesman said Rutherford may face trial. "The evidence and documents found in his possession had shown that he entered Afghanistan for spying purposes and was an active agent, gathering information on the Taliban," said the rep.
###
Click here for more World News
