Catilan Coleman is an American Humanitarian known for being kidnapped, alongside her husband, by the Taliban while they traveled a dangerous zone in Afghanistan. ^{[6] [12]}

Caitlan was born and raised in the small town of Stewartstown, Pennsylvania to parents Jim and Lynn Coleman. ^[1]

When she was a teenager, she became friends with Joshua Boyle online after sharing

interest in the movie Star Wars. ^[16]

Caitlan and Boyle reconnected years later after he had divorced his first wife, Zaynab Khadr. The two traveled throughout Latin America as part of of their 6 month Humanitarian work. ^[15]

Sometime in 2011 during their travels in Latin America, Caitlan and Boyle married in Costa Rica. ^[6]

During the year of 2012, the couple traveled to Russia and made their way into the following Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. During communications with friends and family, Caitlan wrote that she and Boyle promise not to enter the country of Afghanistan. ^[12]

In October, 2012, the two entered the Wardak Province in Afghanistan and were later found and kidnapped by the Taliban. They were kidnapped by the Haqqani network while they were on their way from eastern Ghazni province to capital Kabul. ^[16]

According to certain reports, Caitlan was pregnant at the time.

Some news sources say that she was 5 months pregnant.

Others say she was 7 months pregnant.

^{[16] [12]}

For the next 5 years, the couple would have another boy while living as hostages under the rule of the Taliban.

^[6]

Videos were often released along with photographs of the couple and their two children.

The parents of Caitlan did a video where they explain the kidnapping situation of the couple and their kids.

^[8]

On October 12th, 2017, it was reported by various sources around the world that Caitlan, her husband Joshua Boyle, and their kids were rescued by Pakistani forces. ^[0]

Pakistan's military said in a statement that U.S. intelligence agencies had been tracking the whereabouts of Boyle and Coleman and discovered they had come into Pakistan on Oct. 11 through its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

^{[1] [15]}

The Pakistan army engaged in combat with the Taliban as Caitlan, Joshua, and their two children were trapped inside of a trunk of a vehicle pertaining to one of the Taliban members.

As the shootout occurred, Joshua recalls, as told by his parents, that as the Taliban soldiers fell in the gun fire one by one, he over heard one of them saying to kill the hostages.

The Pakistani soldiers prevented any harm to the hostages.

^[0]

On October 14th, 2017, days after they arrived into Canada, an interview was conducted with Joshua Boyle who admitted that Caitlan was raped several times. The men who kidnapped them also killed their young daughter. ^[2]

Joshua Boyle said the following: