John Walker Lindh

John Phillip Walker Lindh (born February 9, 1981) is an American citizen who was captured in Afghanistan during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan while fighting for the Taliban. His capture made worldwide headlines, and the media dubbed him the "American Taliban."

Youth, conversion and travels

Walker was born in Washington, D.C., to parents Marilyn Walker and Frank Lindh. He was baptized Catholic and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, until he was ten years old and his family moved to San Anselmo, California, in Marin County. In 1997, at age 16, Walker converted to Islam. In 1998, he traveled to Yemen for about ten months, to learn Arabic so that he would be able to read the Qur'an in its original language. He returned to the United States in 1999, living with his family for about eight months before returning to Yemen in February 2000, from where he left for Pakistan to study at an austere madrassa (Islamic school). He is believed to have entered Afghanistan in the spring of 2001.

Related Topics:
Washington, D.C. - Catholic - Silver Spring - Maryland - San Anselmo - California - Marin County - 1997 - Islam - 1998 - Yemen - Arabic - Qur'an - 1999 - 2000 - Pakistan - Madrassa - 2001

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