Afghan Desk Mazar-e-Sharif
The family of Abdul Rauf, who was abducted nearly two years ago in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, said that his kidnappers have threatened to amputate Rauf’s hand if they are not provided with the ransom money.
Rauf, 11, was kidnapped while he was on his way to school in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province two years ago. He has remained in the custody of the kidnappers since then.
The parents of Rauf came to Kabul to seek the government’s help in the rescue of their child. The family blamed the former and current government for failing to rescue him.
“Now that the Islamic Emirate has come into power, why has (Rauf) not been found?… the governor belongs to the Islamic Emirate and so does the provincial commander of intelligence. Why has he still not been found within the past seven months?” said Haji Nabi, father of Rauf.
Zahra, Rauf’s mother, who counts the days that she has been separated from her son, says that if anything happens to Rauf, the Islamic Emirate will be responsible for it.
“They said if that if we don’t pay them the ransom, they will cut the hand off of dear Abdul Rauf. He is an innocent child. Does the Islamic Emirate’s supreme leader have eyes to see and ears to listen?” she said.
The Islamic Emirate has yet to comment.
Meanwhile, the father of Abdul Rauf, an Afghan child who was kidnapped last year, said that recently the kidnappers sent him more videotapes and warned him via text messages that if he does not pay they would kill his son.
“We urge the Islamic Emirate to find and release Abdul Rauf as soon as possible,” said Mohammad Nabi, Abdul Rauf’s father.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior said that the Badri unit is attempting to apprehend the kidnappers of this child.
“Islamic Emirate forces, Intelligence, the Ministry of Interior and other forces are trying to find the child,” said Saeed Khosti, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior.
Abdulrauf was abducted by kidnappers in Mazar-e-Sharif last year when he was traveling to school from home.
Since then the kidnappers have sent many video and audio tapes of him to his family demanding $1.2 million in exchange for his release.
Abdul Rauf’s father said that he has been targeted by the kidnappers three times.
In the latest incident, a month ago, four hand grenades were thrown at him, in which he and 12 relatives were injured. “Twelve people, including me, were injured and a 12-year boy was paralyzed,” said Mohammad Nabi, Abdul Rauf’s father.
