Former captives of Somali pirates, Taliban slam reported immigration conditions

Former captives of the Taliban and Somali pirates are taking to Twitter to favorably compare their treatment to that of migrants in U.S. custody.

Reacting Sunday to a now-viral clip of Justice Department lawyer Sarah Fabian suggesting toothpaste and soap were not necessary for migrant children held in detention centers, journalist Michael Scott Moore responded “Somali pirates gave me toothpaste and soap.” 

Somali pirates gave me toothpaste & soap. https://t.co/K8zCP3IVMm

— Michael Scott Moore (@MichaelSctMoore) June 22, 2019

Moore was abducted by pirates in 2012 and held for more than two years before American and German diplomats paid nearly $2 million to secure his release.

David Rohde, online news director for The New Yorker, also responded Monday:

The Taliban gave me toothpaste & soap.

— David Rohde (@RohdeD) June 24, 2019

{mosads}Rohde was kidnapped by Taliban members in November 2008 outside Kabul and held for eight months before escaping with his interpreter, Tahir Ludin, in July 2009.

The clip of Fabian sparked widespread outrage over the weekend amid other reports of unsanitary, overcrowded and dangerous conditions in facilities where migrant children are being detained, including a report that four toddlers were sent to the hospital last week after being held at a detention facility.