1 • Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 - Rock Valley Publishing
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VOL. 19 • NO. 41
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Addison Township welcomes Mongolian delegation Addison Township Supervisor Dennis Reboletti (far right) speaks with members of a delegation from Mongolia who came to visit the Chicago area last week to learn
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Frerichs released
Lombard native freed in exchange for Afghan tribal leader imprisoned in U.S. on drug trafficking changes By Mike Sandrolini
is indeed a happy ending for him and his family. The long ordeal of Lombard native After over two years of being held Mark Frerichs being held hostage in captive by the Taliban, senior Biden Afghanistan has finally ended. And it Administration officials confirmed FOR THE INDEPENDENT
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early last week that Frerichs has been released following a prisoner swap. Frerichs was exchanged for Haji Bashir Noorzai, who had been in U.S. custody for Mark Frerichs 17 years on drug trafficking charges and was sentenced to life in prison in 2009. Noorzai, an Afghan tribal leader linked to the Taliban, was granted clemency by President Joe Biden as part of the deal. “His (Frerichs’) release is the culmination of years of tireless work by dedicated public servants across our government and other partner gov-
ernments, and I want to thank them for all that effort,” Biden said in a statement. “Bringing the negotiations that led to Mark’s freedom to a successful resolution required difficult decisions, which I did not take lightly. Our priority now is to make sure Mark receives a healthy and safe return and is given the space and time he needs to transition back into society.” According to Reuters, the exchange took place at Kabul airport. Frerichs arrived in Doha, Qatar by plane from Kabul at around 5:30 a.m. Central Time on Sept. 19, and was reported to be in good health. Frerichs, a U.S. Navy veteran, had been living and working in Kabul for 10 years as a civil engineer until his
abduction in late January, 2020. “I am grateful to our State Department team and to our broader national security professionals as well as to our partners in Qatar,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. “Mark’s return to his loved ones is the result of intense engagement with the Taliban. Our commitment to bring Mark home never wavered, and it will never waver for the Americans who are held captive anywhere around the world.” Biden spoke with Charlene Cakora, Frerichs’ sister, on Sept. 19 to inform her of her brother’s release. She and Frerichs’ father, Art Frerichs, both live in Lombard.
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