Award-winning journalist Jere Van Dyk shared his 45-day experience of his Taliban imprisonment.

This was the first of six speakers in a series hosted by IUS International Studies Program.

Dyk spoke about his ordeal with the Taliban to more than 40 IUS students and faculty in the Hoosier Room West on Wednesday, Sept. 15.

His newly released book, “Captive,” discusses his experience in depth. It was released this past June. Dyk said he hopes the book connects with college students.

“The book should be a real interest to young people,” Dyk said. “It is about how a journalist went to the darkest part of humanity and let the story find him.”

In 2008, Dyk, a Washington state native, was assigned by The New York Times to write a book about the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“I had the background, culture and contacts,” Dyk said. “They wanted me to find out the truth about the Taliban and al-Qaida.”

During his travel overseas, he said he learned about the customs of the Taliban, and even met one of the founders of al-Qaida. During this time, Dyk said he thought his cover as a native was going well.

It would not be until the following February, when Dyk would discover the truth. The morning of his kidnapping, he sent off an e-mail from an internet café he said would later save his life.

It was his last communication with the outside world until 45 days later, when he was released from a Taliban prison.

Dyk said he believed his driver had compromised his cover when he was dropped off at the border later that morning. He said this because the driver gave him a kiss on the cheek he referred to as the “Judas kiss.”

He was then kidnapped by the Taliban.

“That day, I was blindfolded and had my hands bound,” Dyk said. “I then became a Taliban prisoner in Pakistan.”

Put in a room with three other men, Dyk said they were given small rations each day.

Despite being a prisoner, Dyk said he experienced no physical torture by the Taliban.

“They never touched me, “Dyk said. “I was considered a guest.”

He said the customs of how the Taliban treated their prisoners were still confusing to him even after the experience.

After 45 days, Dyk said the Taliban released him. He was not told why he was set free or what, if anything, was exchanged for his release.

After Dyk spoke, he opened up the floor for questions. Several of the audience members participated in the forum.

“The speech was intriguing and there were a lot of good questions that followed,” Cliff Staten, dean of Social Sciences and host of the event, said.

Staten worked with the World Affairs Council to have Dyk speak at IU Southeast. Staten said he picked Dyk based on his experiences and background.

“Students get to access [Dyk’s] expertise for free, when they otherwise would not be able to,’’ Staten said.

Michael McArthur, computer science freshman, attended the event to fulfill a First-Year Seminar requirement, but he said he enjoyed it more than he thought he would.

“It turned out to be an awesome experience,” McArthur said. “It changed the way I thought about the Taliban and everything.”

Stephanie Schuman, secondary education junior, came to the event for a class assignment. She said she was surprised how fascinating the event was and liked how IU Southeast was hosting events like these.

“It is great that IUS can hold these events, because we do not really get to hear about what is going on overseas besides what the news tells us,” Schuman said.

By MORIAH
WHITTAKER

Staff

whittakm@umail.iu.edu