U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN ON IRAN HOSTAGES, INCLUDING NIZAR ZAKKA

On March 9, Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen released the following statement on the 10 year anniversary of Robert Levinson’s disappearance in Iran. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen’s statement points out Iran’s “disturbing pattern” of taking American and dual citizens hostage, including Internet freedom advocate Nizar Zakka.

The press release, found below, can also be found here.

​Ros-Lehtinen Statement on the 10 Year Anniversary of Robert Levinson’s Disappearance in Iran

Mar 9, 2017
Ros-Lehtinen Statement on the 10 Year Anniversary of Robert Levinson’s Disappearance in Iran
“Iran must honor its commitments and we must not give up the fight until Bob is home with his family”(Washington, DC) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R – FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, made the following statement on the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of South Florida resident, Robert Levinson, in Iran on March 9, 2007. At 3,652 days, Levinson is the longest held American hostage in our nation’s history. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen once again joined Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, in introducing a Resolution, H.Res. 185, urging the Government of Iran to fulfill its promises of assistance in the case of Robert Levinson and calling for his unconditional release. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“Ten years have passed since Bob disappeared in Iran, and despite numerous assurances and constant pressure, the Iranian regime has yet to release information on Bob and has failed to help bring him home to his wife, Christine, and their seven children. This is unconscionable. Iran must honor its commitments and we must not give up the fight until Bob is home with his family.
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“But we must also recognize that the Levinson case is not isolated. Iran has a disturbing pattern of holding American citizens hostage. This includes dual U.S.-Iranian citizens, like Baquer and Siamak Namazi, who have been unjustly held hostage by Iran since October 2015, and Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent legal resident who has been held by the regime since September 2015. We must not allow Iran to continue to target Americans to use as leverage for ransom payments. Iran must release unconditionally all American citizens and permanent legal residents.