Imprisoned Iranian American Siamak Namazi says he is occurring a seven-day starvation strike — at some point for every year he was left behind in a 2016 prisoner swap — in protest of the Biden administration's failure to free him and different People detained in Iran's infamous Evin jail.
Namazi, 51, knowledgeable President Biden of his starvation strike in a letter noting that he now holds the "unenviable title of the longest held Iranian-American hostage in historical past."
"All I would like sir, is one minute of your days' time for the following seven days dedicated to enthusiastic about the tribulations of the U.S. hostages in Iran," Namazi wrote. "Only a single minute of your time for every year of my life that I misplaced in Evin jail after the U.S. Authorities may have saved me however did not. That's all. Alas, given I'm on this cage all I've to give you in return is my further struggling. Due to this fact, I'll deny myself meals for a similar seven days, within the hope that by doing so you will not deny me this small request."
An legal professional for Namazi advised CBS Information that he delivered the letter to nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan on Friday. For the previous two years the Biden staff has unsuccessfully tried to revive a 2015 nuclear accord with Iran whereas additionally concurrently arranging a prisoner launch. Each efforts have stalled and been additional difficult by U.S. and Western outcry at Iran's violent crackdown on protesters and different human rights violations.
The White Home has not commented.
The Obama administration secured the launch of 4 Iranian People on Jan. 16, 2016, amongst them, Washington Put up journalist Jason Rezaian. Namazi was not included, although the U.S. officers who negotiated the deal had been conscious of his detention and had requested his launch. The U.S. went by with the prisoner swap regardless of Namazi's continued detention.
Siamak Namazi's father, Baquer Namazi, who was a United Nations official on the time, was detained in Iran shortly after the U.S. swap throughout an try to go to his detained son. Each Siamak and Baquer Namazi had been subsequently left behind in two extra prisoner exchanges that had been carried out by the Trump administration. Iranian authorities lastly allowed Baquer, now 86, to go away Iran final October for life-saving medical remedy within the United Arab Emirates.
"How does one describe what it feels wish to be stripped of your humanity and handled as some kind of extortionately priced merchandise as a substitute?" writes Siamak Namazi. "How do I clarify the devastation my household and I are left with after so many half-hearted prisoner offers crumbled final minute"
Siamak Namazi stays incarcerated in Iran's Evin jail, together with People Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz. Mr. Shargi's household confirmed to CBS Information that the three People are actually positioned in the identical jail ward, since a hearth broke out on the jail final 12 months because the nation was engulfed by nationwide protests which proceed to today. U.S. everlasting resident Shahab Dalili can also be being detained in Iran.
Siamak Namazi implored the president to convey all People detained in Iran house. "Up to now I implored you to achieve to your ethical compass and discover the resolve to convey the US hostages in Iran house," he wrote. "To no avail. Not solely can we stay Iran's prisoners, however you haven't a lot as granted our households a gathering."
"Solely the President of the US has the facility to convey us house, ought to he set his thoughts to take action," he added.
In a latest interview with "Face the Nation," Shargi's spouse and two daughters shared their frustration that the households of People held in Iran haven't been granted an viewers with the president. The households of Trevor Reed and Brittney Griner, each launched in prisoner exchanges with Russia final 12 months, had been invited to fulfill with the president previous to the offers that secured their launch.
The Shargi household's frustration was just lately compounded when White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre indicated in two press briefings final 12 months that she was not conversant in his case. "I simply do not perceive how I ought to have religion that my dad's going to be house, if the White Home would not even know his identify," Mr Shargi's daughter, Hannah, advised "Face the Nation" moderator Margaret Brennan.
Right here is the textual content of Namazi's letter to President Biden:
Pricey President Biden,
When the Obama Administration unconscionably left me in peril and freed the opposite Americans Iran held hostage on January 16, 2016, the U.S. Authorities promised my household to have me safely house inside weeks. But seven years and two presidents later, I stay caged in Tehran's infamous Evin jail, holding that lengthy overdue IOU together with the unenviable title of the longest held Iranian-American hostage in historical past.
My captors get pleasure from taunting me about that reality by saying issues like: "How can your loved one America be so heartless? Not one however two U.S. presidents freed others however left you behind!" But my frank reply deprives them of any satisfaction. I inform them whereas I stay extremely indignant in regards to the invidious distinction the U.S. Authorities could make amongst its residents in danger, I always remember that it was not Obama or Trump who imprisoned me on made up prices. That it's clear whose vile hostage diplomacy has blighted the lives of so many harmless women and men and their households.
Sadly, I've a far more durable time replying truthfully to a real query, "How are you, actually?" I do know of no phrases that do justice to the ineffable ache I've endured since Iran took me hostage in October 2015. Nothing I say may probably convey the agony of getting to harden myself to this soul crushing callousness and lawlessness. How does one describe what it feels wish to be stripped of your humanity and handled as some kind of extortionately priced merchandise as a substitute? How do I clarify the devastation my household and I are left with after so many half-hearted prisoner offers crumbled final minute, turning freedom right into a chimera? How do I convey the excruciating terror that comes with not understanding when or how this nightmare will finish and even what comes subsequent?
Day after day I ignore the extraordinary ache that I all the time carry with me and do my finest to battle this grave injustice. You definitely will not be stunned to listen to that my tenacity has wrought no constructive outcomes and that my repeated requires the rule of legislation and present of humanity have fallen on deaf ears right here. Maybe I am fortunate that's so. In spite of everything, at this time the entire world is witnessing how atrociously this regime can reply to those that dare demand their primary rights.
The extent of my captors' ruthlessness will not be the one factor I've discovered way more about throughout these unbearable years. I now know that I should not get my hopes up when senior U.S. officers say that rescuing the hostages in Iran is their highest precedence. Such well-intentioned statements could be repeated 12 months after 12 months with out tangible outcomes. Solely the President of the US has the facility to convey us house, ought to he set his thoughts to take action. That's the reason, Mr. Biden, on the seventh anniversary of being left behind by the Obama Administration, I am as soon as once more risking a direct enchantment to you.
Up to now I implored you to achieve to your ethical compass and discover the resolve to convey the US hostages in Iran house. To no avail. Not solely can we stay Iran's prisoners, however you haven't a lot as granted our households a gathering.
So at this time I really feel compelled to regulate my ask. All I would like sir, is one minute of your days' time for the following seven days dedicated to enthusiastic about the tribulations of the U.S. hostages in Iran. Only a single minute of your time for every year of my life that I misplaced in Evin jail after the U.S. Authorities may have saved me however did not. That's all. Alas, given I'm on this cage all I've to give you in return is my further struggling. Due to this fact, I'll deny myself meals for a similar seven days, within the hope that by doing so you will not deny me this small request.
Sincerely,
Siamak Namazi
Evin Jail
January 16, 2023