Well-known Afghan psychiatrist abducted, murdered

Kidnappers killed a famous Afghan psychiatrist, the doctor’s family announced on Saturday.

Mohamed Nader Alemi was kidnapped roughly two months ago near Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, where Alemi worked for the hospital, according to The Associated Press. His abductors initially asked for a high ransom, but the family negotiated the payment down to $350,000; however, even after the family paid, the kidnappers killed the doctor anyways.

The Taliban Interior Ministry told the AP they arrested eight kidnappers behind the abduction of Alemi and two others, who were rescued safely.

Crime, including kidnappings, swelled under the previous regime in Afghanistan. Under the rule of the Taliban, which gained power in August after the U.S. pulled out of the country, kidnappers have been hung in public.