Dear friend,

Welcome to our Hostage Briefing newsletter. We have a new episode out now on Jerrel Kenemore, an American citizen who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela since March this year. We speak to his sister, Jeana Kenemore Tillery to find out how we can help bring her brother home. We also have some great news and some sad news in our 'Hostage News' section. American WNBA athlete, Brittney Griner was freed yesterday in a prisoner swap with Russia but fellow American and former US Marine, Paul Whelan was left behind - again!

New Episode Out Now

Jerrel Kenemore, an American citizen from Dallas, Texas has been imprisoned in Venezuela since March this year. The U.S. State Department has classified him as "wrongfully detained". Venezuela is notorious for taking innocent Americans captive on false charges and using them as leverage to extract concessions from the United States. This is state-sponsored hostage taking also known as hostage diplomacy.

On this episode, we have the honour of speaking to Jerrel's sister, Jeana Kenemore Tillery to find out how we can help free Jerrel. Jeana walks us through Jerrel's background, how he was taken captive, the conditions of his detention, his hunger strikes and his attempts to take his own life.

We then discuss what the Venezuelan and U.S. governments should do as well as how journalists and the public can help.

Hostage News

American WNBA athlete, Brittney Griner held in Russia freed in prisoner swap. American and former US Marine, Paul Whelan also held in Russia was left behind - again!

• On 8 December, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the release of American WNBA athlete, Brittney Griner who was wrongfully detained in Russia since earlier this year. Sadly, American and former US Marine, Paul Whelan who has been wrongfully detained in Russia since December 2018 was left behind once again. You can read President Biden's remarks here.
• ​CNN was able to speak to Paul Whelan himself in prison a few hours after Brittney Griner was freed.
• We are very happy for Brittney Griner, her wife Cherelle and everyone who worked to bring Brittney home. We are also so sorry for the Whelan family that Paul was left behind again and we won't stop campaigning until he is free too. We've interviewed Paul's sister, Elizabeth Whelan four times on Pod Hostage Diplomacy. You can listen to our most recent interview with Elizabeth in August here.
• Paul's twin brother, David Whelan posted on Twitter stating that one way members of the public can help Paul Whelan is to send him cards/letters for the holidays. Here's a snapshot of that Tweet with the address:

Olivier Vandecasteele, Belgian hostage in Iran on hunger strike

• Belgian citizen, Olivier Vandecasteele has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran since 24 February 2022. He is a humanitarian who has been working in Iran for over six years to improve the lives of the Afghan community in the country. He has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest.
• On 1 December, the Free Olivier Vandecasteele campaign released a petition update on Change stating that Belgian consular services were finally able to speak to Olivier after seven weeks of no contact from him whatsoever. He has significant health issues including significant weight loss, the formation of blood pockets on his toes, loss of his nails and worrying dental and gastric problems. According to Olivier, he was forced to appear before a court without the knowledge of the local Belgian authorities or his Iranian lawyers. His court-appointed "lawyer" did not even speak during his "trial". Olivier also shared that he has been convicted of all charges brought against him without being allowed to communicate about these charges.
• Olivier also informed his family that he has started a hunger strike. Please sign the Change petition here to help call for Olivier's release.

Massud Mossaheb, Austrian hostage in Iran released on "indefinite" medical furlough

• Austrian citizen, Massud Mossaheb from Vienna has been held hostage in Iran since 29 January 2019. Amnesty International has called for his immediate release. Massud has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
• On 28 November, the AP reported that Massud was given indefinite medical leave. Massud apparently must remain in Iran and report to authorities every other week. Massud's family tweeted using the Free Massud Twitter account thanking the Austrian Foreign Minister for his assistance in this matter.
• We are happy that Massud can now get the medical treatment he urgently needs but Massud will never really be free until he is allowed to leave the country and go home to Vienna.

Ciham Ali Abdu, American citizen held in Eritrea now for 10 years

• On 7 December, Human Rights Watch reported that it has now been 10 years since Eritrean-American dual national, Ciham Ali Abdu has been unlawfully detained.
• Ciham was born in Los Angeles on 3 April 1997, but moved to Eritrea's capital, Asmara, with her father, Ali Abdu Ahmed, when he took up a position as a government official under President Isaias Afewerki. In 2012, Ali Abdu, information minister at the time, fled to Australia after a rift with the President. Shortly afterward, on 8 December 2012, Ciham was arrested while trying to flee Sudan for her safety. She has never been charged with any offense and has not been seen since then.

Dr. Hani al-Khudari, Palestinian detained in Saudi Arabia past sentence expiry

• ​Amnesty International UK has released an urgent action stating that Palestinian national, Dr. Hani al-Khudari continues to be detained in Saudi Arabia despite the expiry of his sentence on 28 February 2022. During his arrest and detention, Dr. Hani al-Khudari was subjected to a series of gross human rights violations, including enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention incommunicado and in solitary confinement, and denied access to adequate medical care.

​

Ways To Help

• Please send a card or letter to Paul Whelan for the holidays. The holiday season is a very difficult time for hostages and their families.
• If a citizen of your country is held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, please write to your politicians asking what is being done to bring them home and what are they doing to make sure this doesn't happen again to other citizens.

​

This newsletter is the best way to keep up to date with our work including the cases we're working on. If you haven't already, please do subscribe to this newsletter here. If you have any questions, you can get in touch here.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about hostage diplomacy and for showing the hostages and their families that they're not forgotten, that they're not alone, that there are good caring people out there who want to help.

Best Wishes,

Daren Nair

Creator & Host of Pod Hostage Diplomacy.