Dear friend,

We've been dealing with ongoing health issues hence the delay in sending out this newsletter. We’ve also decided to take an extended break to recover from these health issues. We hope to be back with new episodes in September 2023. Apologies for the inconvenience and thank you all for your understanding.

We have two episodes out now for you. American Marine veteran, Paul Whelan and Wall Street Journal reporter, Evan Gershkovich are both wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. We speak to Paul's sister, Elizabeth Whelan again to find out how we can free Paul and Evan.

Australian citizen and Irish resident, Robert Pether has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iraq since 7 April 2021. New evidence has come to light that undermines a witness statement that was used to wrongfully imprison Robert and Khalid. Robert's wife, Desree Pether joins us again to tell us more.

Multiple hostages held in Iran have been released recently. We have updates on this and more in our 'Hostage & Wrongful Detention News' section below.

​

First Episode Out Now

American Marine veteran, Paul Whelan and American journalist, Evan Gershkovich are both wrongfully imprisoned in Russia. The United States government has classified both men as "wrongfully detained" and has called for their immediate release.

Both Paul and Evan are victims of Russia's hostage diplomacy. We explain what hostage diplomacy is, the different types of hostage-takers, creation of the U.S. hostage enterprise, Presidential Policy Directive 30, the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act as well as how the U.S. Secretary of State makes the decision to designate an American held abroad as "wrongfully detained".

We are joined on this episode by Paul Whelan's sister, Elizabeth Whelan. Elizabeth has been campaigning to free her brother for over four years and we discuss what the Whelan family had to do when Paul was first detained including getting a privacy act waiver and power of attorney signed.

We explain clearly that whether the U.S. gives up a concession to free their citizens held in Russia or does nothing at all and leaves them there, the Russians will continue to take more American citizens hostage. The two things that need to be done to put an end to Russia's hostage diplomacy are to punish the hostage-takers and continuously raise awareness of the risks so Americans stop travelling to Russia. We also discuss the predicament the U.S. government is in because if they punish the hostage-takers right now, Paul and Evan will be made to suffer even more.

Elizabeth tells us what the Russian authorities, U.S. government, corporations, international community, news outlets and public should do to help and she also discusses the lack of equity in how the U.S. government works to free Americans wrongfully detained abroad.

The people campaigning to free Evan Gershkovich will find this episode very informative and useful.

Listen to episode

Second Episode Out Now

April marked two years since Robert Pether, an Australian citizen and Irish resident, has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iraq. He is a father, a husband and an engineer.

Robert and his colleague, Khalid Radwan were both detained in Baghdad on 7 April 2021 after they went to Iraq to resolve a business dispute between the Iraqi government and their Dubai-based employer, CME Consulting. CME Consulting which is an engineering firm was working on the new headquarters for the Central Bank of Iraq. The project was hit by delays and increased costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a business dispute arose between the Iraqi government and CME Consulting. As a result of this dispute, both Robert and Khalid who work for the company were detained and put in prison. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has stated that their detention is arbitrary meaning they are wrongfully imprisoned and called for their immediate release.

We have interviewed Robert's wife, Desree Pether and his son, Flynn Pether four times on this podcast. There have been significant updates on Robert and Khalid's case. New evidence has come to light that undermines a witness statement that was used to wrongfully imprison Robert and Khalid. Desree Pether joins us again to tell us more.

We discuss what has happened since we last spoke in November last year, the current state of Robert's health, how the Pether family are coping with this ongoing trauma and how this has impacted Desree's health as she has multiple sclerosis.

We also discuss what the governments of Iraq, Ausralia and Egypt should do to free Robert and Khalid, how the international community and journalists can help as well as how to keep up to date with the Free Robert Pether campaign.

Listen to episode

​

Hostage & Wrongful Detention News

Benjamin Briére and Bernard Phelan, French hostages held in Iran freed

• On 12 May 2023, French citizen Benjamin Briére and French-Irish citizen Bernard Phelan both held hostage in Iran were released. Both men were wrongfully imprisoned in Vakilabad prison in Iran. Benjamin was held since May 2020 and Bernard was held since October 2022. French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna published a statement on their release the same day.
• We had the honour of interviewing Blandine Briére, Benjamin's sister twice on our podcast. Our most recent episode with Blandine was in February 2023 and you can listen to it here. We are so happy for Benjamin and Bernard as well as their families.
• For more information on Bernard Phelan, check out the Release Bernard Phelan campaign website here.

​

Olivier Vandecasteele, Belgian hostage held in Iran freed

• On 26 May 2023, the BBC reported the release of Belgian citizen, Olivier Vandecasteele who was wrongfully imprisoned in Iran. Belgium and Iran carried out a prisoner swap involving Belgian aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele and Iranian diplomat, Assadollah Assadi.
• Olivier is an innocent aid worker who was held hostage in Iran for 455 days and sentenced to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes on false charges while Assadollah was jailed for 20 years in Belgium for plotting a bomb attack on an exiled Iranian opposition group's rally in France. The Omani government mediated the talks between the Belgians and the Iranians that led to this prisoner swap.
• Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib released a statement on Twitter on Olivier's release.
• The following is a statement from our creator and host, Daren Nair on Olivier's release:
  • "Belgian aid worker, Olivier Vandecasteele was wrongfully imprisoned in Iran for 455 days so he could be used as a bargaining chip by the Iranian authorities to extract a concession from the Belgian government. In this case, that concession was a prisoner swap. This is state-sponsored hostage taking also known as hostage diplomacy. The Belgian government rightly prioritised the life of their innocent citizen and did what they had to do to bring Olivier Vandecasteele home. In hostage diplomacy cases, whether you give up a concession to free your citizen or do nothing at all and leave them there, the hostage-taking state will continue to take more of your citizens hostage. The only way to stop hostage diplomacy is to punish the perpetrators within the hostage-taking state and raise awareness so your citizens stop travelling to that country. This is what Belgium needs to do when it comes to Iran."
• Check out this video by news outlet, LN24 of Olivier being reunited with his family at the airport in Belgium immediately after landing. On 1st June, Olivier released a statement that was posted on the Free Olivier Vandecasteele Twitter account thanking everyone who campaigned for his release.

Kamran Ghaderi, Massud Mossaheb and Thomas Kjems, Austrian and Danish hostages held in Iran freed

• On 2 June 2023, three more European hostages held in Iran were freed as a result of the prisoner exchange negotiated between Belgium and Iran that freed Belgian hostage, Olivier Vandecasteele the week before. Austrian citizens, Kamran Ghaderi and Massud Mossaheb as well as Danish national, Thomas Kjems were released.
• Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister, Hadja Lahbib posted a statement on their release on Twitter. Austrian Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg also posted a statement on Twitter about their release.

​

​

​

• Kamran Ghaderi is a husband and father of three children from Vienna, Austria. Kamran was held hostage in Iran since 2 January 2016. Until his release, Kamran was the longest held European hostage in Iran. We campaigned with his wife, Harika Ghaderi for years to secure his release. We are so happy for Kamran, Harika and their three children. We had the honour of interviewing Harika on our podcast in December 2021. To learn more about Kamran's case, feel free to listen to this episode here. On 4 June, the Ghaderi family released a statement on Twitter thanking everyone who helped secure Kamran's release.
• Massud Mossaheb is a husband, father and grandfather from Vienna, Austria as well. Massud was held hostage in Iran since 29 January 2019. We campaigned with Massud's daughters for years to secure his release. We are so happy for Massud and his family. On 9 June, Massud's family released a statement on Twitter from Massud himself thanking everyone who campaigned for his release.
• Danish citizen, Thomas Kjems was also released with Kamran and Massud. His detention in Iran was not made public so there is little information on Thomas himself. This Reuters article published on 3 June 2023 tells us more about Thomas and what he went through.
• We are so happy for all three men and their families. We also know that Kamran and Massud's prolonged captivity and lack of medical care has resulted in serious health issues for both men. We hope Kamran, Massud, Thomas and their families receive all the post-captivity treatment and support they need from their respective governments.

Australian hostage, Dr. Kenneth Elliot released by Al-Qaeda in Africa after seven years in captivity

• On 19 May 2023, Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Penny Wong released a statement confirming the release of 88-year-old Dr. Kenneth Elliot who was held in captivity in West Africa for seven years. This Guardian article published on the same day will give you more information on Dr. Elliot's captivity.

UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee releases report on hostage diplomacy

• On 4 April 2023, the UK Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee released their report on the UK Government's approach to hostage diplomacy and what improvements need to be made. This report was produced as a result of a Parliamentary inquiry into the government's approach to state-level hostage situations. Our creator and host, Daren Nair submitted written evidence which was published by the Foreign Affairs Committee and cited in their final report.

U.S. President Biden announces sanctions against Russian and Iranian actors for engaging in wrongful detention of Americans

• On 27 April 2023, U.S. President Biden announced new steps taken by the U.S. government to punish and deter wrongful detention and hostage-taking of Americans around the world. The following is an excerpt from his announcement:
  • "Today, the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury have announced the U.S. Government’s first-ever sanctions against actors for engaging in the wrongful detention of Americans. These sanctions against four individuals and two security services in Russia and Iran mean that all of the designees’ property and interests in property in the possession or control of U.S. persons are now blocked. These steps to cut off these actors from the legitimate financial system make use of the Executive Order that I issued last summer that, itself, built on the 2020 Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act. That law passed in large part due to the perseverance of the families and so many others in this community who have worked to turn pain into purpose."
• Here's the transcript of the background press call by senior administration officials on the administration's actions to punish and deter wrongful detention and hostage-taking.

Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act

• On 18 May 2023, U.S. Senators Chris Coons and Mike Rounds introduced the Stop Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act to prevent the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from levying fines and penalties on American hostages and wrongful detainees for late tax payments while they are held abroad. Read the full press release issued by the office of Senator Coons here.

The Australian government is rethinking how to help citizens embroiled in hostage diplomacy

• On 8 May, the Guardian reported that the Australian government is rethinking how to help citizens embroiled in hostage diplomacy. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) has quietly introduced two measures that could lead to changes in how it deals with complex or protracted consular cases in the future:
  • This includes asking some former detainees to join a new external advisory group to provide views on media tactics and how to support them after their release.
  • In addition to the new external panel, Dfat plans to establish a complex case committee at deputy secretary level to ensure sustained, high-level attention on these cases across commonwealth agencies. This committee will be required to consider all strategic and tactical levers available to the government to resolve cases.

Death sentence of Mark Swidan, American held in China upheld by Chinese courts

• American citizen, Mark Swidan has been imprisoned in China since 2012. The United States government has designated Mark as "wrongfully detained". On 13 April 2023, Chinese courts denied Mark's appeal and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence. The following is a statement from U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel released the same day:
  • "Today the People’s Republic of China’s Jiangmen Intermediate Court denied wrongfully detained U.S. national Mark Swidan’s appeal, and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence. We are disappointed by this decision and will continue to press for his immediate release and return to the United States. U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed their concerns to senior PRC officials about Mr. Swidan’s treatment, medical care, and his inability to send or receive mail in a timely manner. President Biden and Secretary Blinken continue to remain personally focused on the release of Mark Swidan and other U.S. nationals wrongfully detained or held hostage across the world."
• Learn more about Mark Swidan's case in this CNN article published on 14 April.

French-Afghan journalist, Mortaza Behboudi held by Taliban in Afghanistan

• On 8 February 2023, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) published an alert stating that on 7th January 2023, members of the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence detained Mortaza Behboudi, a reporter and cofounder of the independent news website, Guiti News in Kabul, Afghanistan. Behboudi is an award-winning journalist and photographer who focuses on migration and refugee issues. He was named one of Forbes magazine's "30 under 30" in 2019.
• Sign the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) petition to #FreeMortaza here. Follow Mortaza's wife, Aleksandra Mostovaja on Twitter to stay up-to-date with his case.

DAWN calls on the U.S. to sanction Israeli judge for wrongful detention of U.S. citizen in West Bank prison

• On 19 April 2023, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), a nonprofit organisation that supports democracy and human rights in the Middle East and Africa that was founded by the late Jamal Khashoggi called on the United States government to sanction Israeli reserve military judge Dr. Maor Even-Khen for authorising the wrongful, arbitrary and political detention of an elderly U.S. citizen, Jamal Afif Suleiman al-Niser. 76-year-old Jamal Niser is a resident of Ohio.

UK condemns sentencing of British-Russian Opposition Leader, Vladimir Kara-Murza

• On 17 April 2023, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) released a press release condemning the politically-motivated conviction and sentencing of British dual-national Vladimir Kara-Murza in a Moscow court to 25 years in prison. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated the following:
  • "Vladimir Kara-Murza bravely denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for what it was – a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter."
  • "Russia’s lack of commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, is alarming. We continue to urge Russia to adhere to its international obligations including Vladimir Kara-Murza’s entitlement to proper healthcare."
  • "I pay tribute to Mr Kara-Murza and his family, including his wife Evgenia and her unwavering commitment to raising her husband’s cause on the international stage. The UK will continue to support them and to call for Mr Kara-Murza’s immediate release."
• It should be noted that another British citizen wrongfully imprisoned in Russia is Paul Whelan. Paul is a citizen of the United States, Britain, Canada and Ireland. He has been detained in Russia since December 2018.

British aid worker, Alan Henning who was killed by militants after travelling to Syria in 2014 has been honoured in his home city

• On 28 April 2023, the BBC reported that father-of-two, Alan Henning was posthumously granted the Freedom of Salford by councillors. Mayor Ann-Marie Humphreys said: "We all should be grateful for people like Alan who put others before themselves".
• According to the BBC report, Alan Henning was captured on his fourth aid mission to Syria within minutes of arrival in December 2013 and was murdered in October 2014. Deeply moved by the plight of innocent people in Syria during the conflict at the time, he began to raise funds to help alleviate their suffering with aid.

A hostage held at gunpoint in the fatal Pan Am flight 73 hijacking in 1986 has found out why his life was spared

• On 2 May 2023, the BBC reported that British national Mike Thexton who was held hostage at gunpoint in the fatal Pan Am flight 73 hijacking in 1986 has found out why his life was spared. 22 people were killed and about 150 injured after a New York-bound plane was taken over by Palestinian militants at Karachi airport, Pakistan. According to the BBC report, Mike said the terrorist was "touched" by a story about Mike's brother, who had died on a Pakistan mountain in 1983.

Iran executes Swedish-Iranian hostage, Habib Chaab

• On 6 May 2023, the BBC reported that Iran executed Swedish-Iranian citizen Habib Chaab. Habib Chaab was a founder of a separatist group calling for independence for ethnic Arabs in Iran's south-western Khuzestan province. He had been living in exile in Sweden for a decade when he was abducted by Iranian agents in Turkey in 2020.
• Unless Iran is punished for this, they will continue doing it.

US-Afghan journalist, Ali Latifi freed after being detained in Kabul for one day

• On 20 May 2023, DW reported that US-Afghan journalist Ali Latifi had been released from detention in Kabul after being detained for a day. Latifi was arrested after he met with former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani's brother, Hashmat Ghani. The journalist was accused of "suspicious behaviour" by authorities. Hashmat Ghani said that Latifi had been "falsely accused" of having drunk alcohol at his residence. Ghani said the accusations were baseless and that Latifi does not drink alcohol.

British charity medic, Kevin Cornwell held by the Taliban in Afghanistan

• On 20 May 2023, the Daily Mail reported that the wife of a British charity medic being held prisoner by the Taliban plans to travel to Afghanistan capital, Kabul to see her husband "perhaps one last time" amid growing fears for his health. 53-year-old Kevin Cornwell is at serious risk of dying from a kidney condition that has gone untreated since he was arrested in January 2023.
• According to the article, the Taliban's secret police arrested Kevin Cornwell and an unnamed British hotel manager in a raid on a hotel for western aid workers in January. The pair have been accused of working as spies after a handgun was found in Kevin's room despite the fact that he had a licence for it from the Taliban regime. Kevin is an ex-British Army medic who was working in the country for Iqarus, a UK-based medical organisation that works on United Nations healthcare missions in Afghanistan.
• On 23 May 2023, Kevin's wife, Kelly Cornwell spoke about this on Good Morning Britain. Watch her interview on Twitter here.

Reflections from a CITGO 6 former detainee, Jose Pereira

• Jose Pereira is an American from Texas and he used to work for U.S. oil company, CITGO Petroleum. In November 2017, Jose and his five American colleagues were wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela. The U.S. State Department designated all six men as "wrongfully detained". Collectively, they were known as the CITGO 6. The U.S. government secured their release last year. On 22 May 2023, Jose wrote an article for the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation where he talks about his experience and hostage diplomacy. He also mentions his interview with us shortly after his release. If you haven't already, please do listen to our interview with Jose here.

Health condition of Nahid Taghavi, German hostage in Iran is severe

• On 4 June 2023, the Independent Center for Human Rights in Iran (ICHRI) posted a note on Twitter from prominent Iranian activist and political prisoner, Narges Mohammadi. Narges is being held in Evin Prison in Tehran and her cellmate is Nahid Taghavi. In her note, Narges expresses her concern about Nahid's health. Nahid is a German citizen and has been held hostage in Iran since October 2020. She is 68 years old and has many health issues including high blood pressure and diabetes.
• We have interviewed Nahid's daughter, Mariam Claren three times on our podcast. Our most recent interview with Mariam was in March this year. To learn more about Nahid's case, please do listen to that interview here.

Nine seafarers held hostage in Libya freed

• On 8 June 2023, TradeWinds reported that nine Indian crew members are heading home four months after they were taken hostage in Libya. The seafarers were captured by a local militia when their 1,200-dwt product tanker, Maya 1 (built 1991) broke down off the coast in February 2023.

Al-Qaeda releases video of Bangladeshi UN worker abducted in Yemen

• On 13 June 2023, The National reported that Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch has released a new video of a UN worker abducted 16 months ago in the war-torn country according to the Site Intelligence Group. The man, who identified himself as Akam Sofyol Anam from the UN Department of Safety and Security in Aden, appealed for his release and warned he and two of his fellow abductees were seriously ill. According to the article, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) kidnapped Mr. Anam and four others in February 2022 as they were returning to the port city of Aden after a field mission.

American held in Venezuela, Jerrel Kenemore currently on day 14 of hunger strike

• According to his sister Jeana Kenemore Tillery, American citizen Jerrel Kenemore who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela since March 2022 is currently on day 14 of a hunger strike. Jerrel has been on multiple hunger strikes previously. The U.S. State Department has designated Jerrel as "wrongfully detained". We interviewed Jeana in December last year. If you haven't already, please listen to this interview here to learn more about Jerrel and how you can help bring him home.

​

Ways To Help

• Feel free to send us a message of support you would like us to share with the hostage families or former hostages. You can email your messages to us here. If you have any questions for the families or former hostages, please send them to us too and if there are enough, we'll have a Q&A Pod with them when we’re back to answer these questions for you.
• We've said this before and we'll say it again - persistence is key. News cycles move fast. If you live in a country with a fellow citizen wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad, please keep calling or writing to your politicians asking what they're doing to free this person and what are they doing to make sure this doesn't happen again to other citizens like you. If you get a generic response which is likely, ask for specific information. If you get the same response again and again, ask why there has been no progress and do they have any alternative solutions.

​

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 would like to share this Hostage Briefing on the web, click here. If you have any questions, you can get in touch with us 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.