Over recent years the Iranian regime has continually arrested and arbitrarily detained dual and foreign nationals, often under the pretext of protecting national security or counterterrorism.
In reality, those detained are innocent of all charges and have been targeted purely to be used as political bargaining chips to further the foreign policy interests of the Iranian regime – a practice that has become known as “hostage diplomacy”.
The international community has been strong in its condemnation of the Iranian regime, with the United Nations, the European Union and national governments all taking measures to secure the release of those unjustly detained in Iran.
Yet states have typically struggled to secure the release of their citizens, negotiations are unsuccessful more often than not and ultimately the awful practice of hostage diplomacy continues.
The International Observatory of Human Rights #FreeRouhaniHostages campaign focuses on securing the release of all dual and foreign nationals in Iran, safeguarding those that find themselves detained, and incentivising the Iranian regime to pursue different approaches in their diplomatic dealings.
Foreign and Dual Nationals
Sentenced to Death
Ahmadreza Djalali
Swedish-Iranian Academic Detained: April 2016 Charges: Spreading corruption
Scientist, physician and expert in emergency disaster medicine
Arrested
26 April 2016
Accused of
“Spreading corruption on earth”
Sentence
Death
Jailed
21 October 2017
Prison held
Evin Prison but it was reported on 29 July 2019 that he had been transferred to an unknown location.
Health
Dr Djalali’s health has been deteriorating since his arrest. In addition to his ongoing crisis, he has been denied medical care continuously. It is feared that he suffers from leukemia and was scheduled to see a blood and cancer specialist at a hospital in February 2019 but prison authorities prevented him from going. He has repeatedly carried out hunger strikes throughout his period in prison and in May 2019 it was reported that he had lost 24 kg since the time of his arrest.
A charity worker with the Thomson Reuters Foundation
Arrested
3 April 2016 at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport on her way back home to London after visiting her parents
Accused of
“Plotting to topple the Iranian regime”
Sentence
5 years
Jailed
September 2016
Prison held
Since March 2020, on temporary furlough due to Covid-18 (under an effective house arrest at her parents house forced to wear an ankle tag). On 8 September 2020, Iranian state media said that Zaghari-Ratcliffe was facing new charges. Previously held in Evin Prison.
Health
Under stress and has carried out several hunger strikes
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Working as a lecturer and researcher for Melbourne University’s Asia Institute and has published work on authoritarian governance and activism in the Middle East.
Arrested
September 2018 at Tehran Airport as she was leaving the country after attending a onference.
Accused of
Espionage
Sentence
10 years
Jailed
October 2018
Prison held
28 July 2020 believed transferred to Gharchak Women’s Prison (Shahr-e Rey prison, also known as “Qarchak Women’s Prison“ or Varamin prison) Previously held in Evin Prison
Health
Mental health deterioration due to isolation reported
Released on furlough due to Covid-19 since April 2020. Previously held in Evin Prison. Released on bail in late May 2018 but re-arrested sometime between 23 August and 22 September 2018.
CEO of an Austrian IT management and consulting company
Arrested
2 January 2016 upon arrival at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport. He was on a routine business trip and had previously traveled to Iran on many occasions for work and business seminars.
Accused of
“Spreading corruption on earth”
Sentence
10 years
Jailed
17 October 2016
Prison held
Evin Prison
Health
Needs ongoing medical care for a tumour in his left leg.
