By Timothy Weeks, an Australian academic who was held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan and later converted to Islam, has passed away in Kabul at the age of 54 after a prolonged battle with cancer. Weeks was abducted in Kabul in 2016 while teaching at the American University of Afghanistan. During his more than three years in captivity, he converted to Islam and adopted the name Jibra’il Omar. He was released in a prisoner exchange in 2019.
In 2022, Weeks returned to Afghanistan, expressing a deep fondness for the country and the Taliban. He worked as an English teacher in Kabul until his passing. Afghan officials noted his commitment to Islam and his decision to reside in Kabul, where he traveled to various provinces to deepen his understanding of the religion. Senior Taliban official Anas Haqqani, who was part of the prisoner exchange that secured Weeks’ release, paid tribute to him, stating that their lives had become intertwined through their shared experiences. Weeks’ death comes amid ongoing challenges in Afghanistan, including rising poverty, human rights concerns, and recent conflicts such as a Pakistani military strike in Paktika province.
