UPDATE 12- AS NIZAR STARTS THIRD WEEK OF HUNGER STRIKE, FAMILY PLEAS FOR HUMANITARIAN RELEASE7/10/2017
Statement on the Continued Unlawful Detention of Internet Freedom Advocate Nizar Zakka
As Nizar Starts Third Week of Hunger Strike, Family Pleas For Humanitarian Release
Fifteen days ago Internet freedom advocate Nizar Zakka started his fifth hunger strike in Evin Prison to protest inhumane treatment at the hands of Iranian captors who have held him hostage since September 18, 2015.
In a quick phone call to family this weekend, Mr. Zakka said it is “too late to stop the hunger strike,” adding that he was being physically “tortured” by the Iranians. The Zakka family issued the following statement: “We urge the international community, and specially the U.S. and Lebanese governments, as well as all the Human Rights Organizations to help Nizar. Nizar’s basic human and fundamental rights are being violated. Nizar’s his health severely weakened due to his continuing Hunger Strike for past 15 days, while the world is watching silently.”
Ms. Shahindokht Molaverdi, a member of Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet, who also serves as the Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs, invited Mr. Zakka in the summer of 2015 to speak at a technology conference for women and families.
After several days in Iran, and after a seemingly successful event that was public and covered on social media, Nizar was detained en route to the airport on September 18, 2015. It is believed that he has been held at Evin Prison ever since.
More information on Nizar Zakka’s case can be found below.
2017-7-10 UPDATE 12- Zakka ... by pobletetamargo on Scribd
Prior Statements and Releases
Statement on the Continued Unlawful Detention of Internet Freedom Advocate Nizar Zakka
Nizar On Fifth Hunger Strike, Now “Open Ended”
Nine days ago Internet freedom advocate Nizar Zakka started his fifth hunger strike in Evin Prison to protest inhumane treatment at the hands of Iranian captors who have held him hostage since September 18, 2015. Unfortunately, the hunger strike is already taking a physical toll with his blood pressure reportedly reaching dangerously low-levels of approximately 70/50, complicating existing physical problems that are not being addressed. Nizar has also been moved and isolated, again, from fellow prisoners because he refuses to eat. He has also been forced to sign documents that he cannot understand.
In a personal letter to Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, one of Nizar’s three sons, Mr. Nadim Zakka, told Rouhani that his father “is now on an open-ended hunger strike and is in very poor health,” stressing that he is very worried for Nizar’s life. “Please stop our suffering before it is too late,” Nadim concluded.
Nizar’s lawyer in the United States, Jason Poblete, said that “as he has done throughout this ordeal, Nizar maintains his innocence. He only wishes a transparent judicial system were available to prove it; that is not the case in Iran. The Zakka family asks for continued prayers and support as well as the unconditional release of Nizar. The Iranian government should put politics aside and release Nizar on a humanitarian basis before this matter escalates, as did the recent case of an American in North Korea.”
Nizar was kidnapped by the Iranian regime on September 18, 2015. Nizar was in Iran because he was invited to speak by Shahindokht Molaverdi at a women’s Internet conference. Molaverdi is a member of Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet and serves as the vice president of Iran for Women and Family Affairs. More information on Nizar Zakka’s case can be found below. UPDATE 11- Unlawful Detenti... by pobletetamargo on Scribd
Prior Statements and Releases
Statement on the Continued Unlawful Detention of Internet Freedom Advocate Nizar Zakka
Nizar Begins Fifth Hunger Strike, Iran Responds With Torture
Internet freedom advocate Nizar Zakka started his fifth hunger strike in Evin Prison this Tuesday. Nizar issued the following statement today:
“I will not sign a forced confession or accept anything less than my freedom and innocence. I would rather die with my head [held] high. I plead with those in a position to help, including the United Nations Secretary General and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, for my release, and the release of fellow innocent Americans and others being held in Iran. After Nizar started his hunger strike on Tuesday, he says that Evin Prison guards increased the physical and psychological pressures on him. Among other things, they have put him on a very small surface, elevated high off the ground but without a ladder. Because of his weakened physical state, Nizar says that he has a very difficult time moving around and continues to fear for his life and safety. Nizar’s lawyer in the United States, Jason Poblete, said that “Nizar and his family remain hopeful, despite the difficult circumstances, that the powers that be will be able to find a prompt resolution and secure Nizar’s release on humanitarian grounds. These violations of fundamental freedoms must stop.” Nizar was kidnapped by the Iranian regime on September 18, 2015. Nizar was in Iran because he was invited to speak by Shahindokht Molaverdi at a women’s Internet conference. Molaverdi is a member of Hassan Rouhani’s cabinet and serves as the vice president of Iran for Women and Family Affairs. UPDATE 10- Statement on the... by pobletetamargo on Scribd Nizar Zakka, U.S. Legal Permanent Resident and Internet Freedom Advocate, Begins 5th Hunger Strike
The following statement was issued by Mr. Nizar Zakka, who has been detained at Evin Prison in Tehran since September 2015, regarding his continued unlawful detention by Iran.
UPDATE 9-Statement on Conti... by pobletetamargo on Scribd Congress Introduces Resolution Urging Unconditional Release of Nizar Zakka and all U.S. Persons Held Unlawfully in Iran
On May 4, several members of Congress, including the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), introduced H. Res. 317, a resolution calling for the unconditional release of United States citizens and legal permanent residents being held for political purposes by the Iranian regime.
The legislation includes Mr. Nizar Zakka, a United States legal permanent resident and Lebanese national, whose health is in a dire state, was unlawfully detained on September 18, 2015, in Iran after attending a women’s Arab Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) conference, at the invitation of Iranian government officials, and was later falsly charged of being a spy sentenced to 10 years at Evin prison. Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen released the following statement regarding the resolution: “The obvious result of paying a rogue regime a ransom for the return of hostages was that it would incentivize the taking of even more hostages. And that is precisely what happened when Iran was paid a $1.7 billion ransom for American hostages. Since then, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has taken hostage Siamak and Baquer Namazi, Karan Vafadari and at least one other American citizen, as well as permanent legal residents Nizar Zakka and Afarin Niasari, sentencing them on trumped up charges. What’s worse is that Iran is now using this hostage taking tactic with dual-nationals of other western nations, like the UK, France, Germany and Canada, in order to exact political and financial concessions.
Mr. Zakka’s attorney, Mr. Jason Poblete, released the following press release after the introduction of the resolution to the Congress;
UPDATE 8- Statement on the ... by pobletetamargo on Scribd
Prior Statements and Releases
human rights abuses in Iran. These designations are pursuant to E.O. 13553, which targets serious human rights abuses by officials of, and persons acting on behalf of, the Government of Iran since the June 2009 Iranian election.”
The following statement was issued on behalf of Mr. Nizar Zakka and his family by Mr. Zakka’s attorney in the United States, Mr. Jason Poblete following this release;
“By imposing economic sanctions on Iran’s State Prison Organization and Sohrab Soleimani, President Trump is reminding Iranian officials that the act of unlawfully holding Americans, U.S. Legal Residents, as well as persons from other nations, hostage comes with consequences. Human rights abusers will be held accountable.” UPDATE 7- Statement on the ... by pobletetamargo on Scribd Nizar Zakka, a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident from Lebanon, has been held hostage in Iran since September 18, 2015. On his way to the airport, the day after he attended an Internet governance conference in Tehran, Nizar was kidnapped by several individuals believed to be associated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Nizar has been subjected to extreme physical and psychological stresses at the notorious Evin Prison and has been falsely accused by Iranian authorities of engaging in espionage. On Tuesday, March 21, 2017, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil took a question about Nizar’s matter at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars during the Lebanon Ideas Forum; A Conversation with His Excellency Gebran Bassil. The complete webcast by The Wilson Center can be found here.
In addition to Nizar, there are more than 5 Americans and U.S. Legal Permanent Residents being held hostage in Iran. More Information on Nizar Zakka’s Case: Prior Statements and Releases
UPDATE 6-STATEMENT ON THE CONTINUED UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF INTERNET FREEDOM ADVOCATE NIZAR ZAKKA3/17/2017
Zakka Starts Another Hunger Strike to Protest Continued Delay of Case Review
The following statement was issued on behalf of Mr. Nizar Zakka and his family by Mr. Zakka’s attorney in the United States, Mr. Jason Poblete, regarding the continued delays by Iran in reviewing his case:
“Nizar has informed us that, to protest the continued delays in reviewing his case, the lack of justice and other matters, he has started another hunger strike. This is the fourth time that Nizar has had to resort to a hunger strike to raise awareness of his plight. While his spirit is very strong, his health continues to suffer. As has been the case since he was unlawfully detained on September 18, 2015, and later falsely accused, Nizar continues to strongly maintain his innocence. Nizar and his family ask that all parties who can help, to please do so.” UPDATE 6-Statement on the C... by pobletetamargo on Scribd
Prior Statements and Releases
Statement on the False Reports Concerning Unlawfully Detained Internet Freedom Advocate Nizar Zakka The following statement was issued by Mr. Nizar Zakka’s attorney in the United States, Mr. Jason I. Poblete regarding false statements reported by various news agencies on February 22. According to an Associated Press (Tehran) report published by ABC News at 6:26 a.m. EST, U.S. resident Nizar Zakka “confessed.” The Associated Press article published by ABC News can be found here.
Prior Statements and Releases
A leading Lebanese newspaper Al-Nahar reports that U.S. Legal Permanent Resident Nizar Zakka recently met with Lebanon’s Ambassador to Iran, Ambassador Fadi Haj Ali, as well as an Assistant Iranian prosecutor assigned to Mr. Zakka’s matter.
At the request of Nizar’s Iran legal defense team, information was provided that a U.S. NGO – International Relief & Development – is not an entity of the U.S. government. According to Al-Nahar, an Iranian appeals court is supposed to hear an appeal in the near future. The Zakka family remains hopeful for the prompt and unconditional release of Mr. Zakka. The full story, in Arabic, can be found at Al-Nahar by following this link. |
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