Last month 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 dispute arose whereby the Iraqi government demanded the return of $12 million USD paid to CME Consulting. As a result of this dispute between the Iraqi government and CME Consulting, both Robert Pether and Khalid Radwan 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 in 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 (MS). 

We also discuss what the governments of Iraq, Australia 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. 

For more information on Robert Pether, please check out the following:

• Our previous episodes: Ep 32, Ep 36, Ep 40, Ep 46
• Free Robert Pether Twitter account
• Social media hashtag: freerobertpether

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

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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.

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Paul Whelan, please check out the following:

• Our previous episodes: Ep 4, Ep 21, Ep 35, Ep 39, Ep 48
• Free Paul Whelan website
• Free Paul Whelan Go Fund Me
• Free Paul Whelan Twitter account
• Social media hashtag: FreePaulWhelan

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

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Shahab Dalili is a United States lawful permanent resident from Virginia. His wife and children are all U.S. citizens. In April 2016, Shahab went to Tehran to attend his father’s funeral. He was then arrested and has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran to this day.

According to recent news reports, there have been discussions of a potential prisoner exchange between the United States and Iran. The U.S. government has stated that no deal has been agreed. Shahab’s family are very worried that he may be left behind by the United States government if a prisoner exchange deal does go ahead.

On this episode, we have the honour of speaking once again to Shahab’s son, Darian Dalili. We discuss the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage Taking Accountability Act which has been signed into U.S. law, the fire in Evin prison last year where Shahab is being held, the release of American citizen Baquer Namazi who was held hostage in Iran since 2016, the potential prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran as well as what the U.S. State Department, Congress and President Biden should do. 

We then end this episode discussing what journalists and the public can do to help free Shahab Dalili and bring him back home to Virginia.

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Shahab Dalili, please check out the following:

• Our previous episode: Ep 41
• Free Shahab Dalili Twitter account
• Social media hashtag: FreeDalili

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

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Cecile Kohler is a French teacher and a unionist. She has always dreamed of visiting Iran. Last year, both Cecile and her partner, Jacques Paris visited Iran as tourists during the French school holidays and were arrested on their way to the airport by Iranian authorities. They have both been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran since 7 May 2022. The French government has referred to them as state hostages.

In October 2022, both Cecile and Jacques were made to deliver forced “confessions” which were aired on Iranian state media. The French government was outraged by this and strongly condemned it. On this episode, we have the honour of speaking to Cecile’s sister, Noemie Kohler.

Noemie walks us through what happened to her sister, how they found out she was arrested and what they did next. Noemie tells us how heartbreaking it was for her and her family to see her sister being forced to confess to something she didn’t do. She also talks about how her sister is doing physically and mentally as Cecile has been held for many months in solitary confinement, how the Kohler family have been coping with this trauma, the fact that Cecile has not been given access to a lawyer and the Free Cecile public campaign. Noemie and her family have been working with the families and supporters of other French citizens held hostage in Iran. They held a solidarity rally in Paris earlier this year.

We end this episode discussing what the Iranian authorities, French government and European Union should do to free Cecile and other innocent foreign nationals held hostage in Iran. We also discuss how journalists and members of the public can help.

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Cecile Kohler, please check out the following:

• Free Cecile website
• Free Cecile Twitter account
• Social media hashtag: FreeCecile

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

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68-year-old German citizen, Nahid Taghavi has been held hostage in Iran since 16 October 2020. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and Amnesty International have both stated that her detention is arbitrary and have called for her immediate release. Members of the German Bundestag from multiple parties have also stated that Nahid is unjustly detained and have called for her release too.

Many things have happened in Iran in the last year. On this episode, we have the honour of speaking once again to Nahid’s daughter, Mariam Claren who brings us up to speed on her mother’s case. Nahid was released on medical furlough in July last year and was summoned back to Iran’s notorious Evin prison 45 minutes after the German Chancellor criticised Iran’s brutal crackdown on protests sparked by the murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.

We also discuss the release of French academic Fariba Adelkhah, German citizen and U.S. resident Jamshid Sharmahd being sentenced to death as well as what the Iranian regime, German government and international community should do. We end this episode talking about how journalists and the public can help free Nahid Taghavi and Jamshid Sharmahd.

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Nahid Taghavi, please check out the following:

• Our previous episode(s): Ep 6, Ep 27
• Free Nahid petition
• Mariam Claren's Twitter account
• Free Nahid Facebook page
• Free Nahid Instagram account
• Social media hashtag: FreeNahid 

For more information on Jamshid Sharmahd, please check out the following:

• Our previous episode(s): Ep 20, Ep 51
• Free Jamshid Sharmahd website
• Free Jamshid Sharmahd petition
• Gazelle Sharmahd's Twitter account
• Free Jamshid Instagram account
• Social media hashtag: SaveSharmahd

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

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Today is day 19 of French citizen, Benjamin Briere’s hunger strike. He has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iran since May 2020. He is one of seven French citizens currently held in Iran. The French government has referred to them as state hostages.

Iran is notorious for arresting innocent foreign nationals on false charges and putting them in prison for years for the purpose of extracting concessions from their home country. This abhorrent practice is state-sponsored hostage taking also known as hostage diplomacy.

On this episode, we speak once again to Benjamin’s sister, Blandine Briere who tells us what needs to be done to bring her brother back home to France.

Last month, Blandine and the other families of French hostages in Iran held a rally in Paris urging the Iranian regime to release their loved ones. She talks about this rally, her brother’s hunger strike, what the Iranian authorities, French government and European Union should do as well as how journalists and the public can help free Benjamin Briere.

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Benjamin Briere, please check out the following:

• Our previous episode: Ep 42
• Free Benjamin Briere petition
• Free Benjamin Instagram account
• Blandine Briere's Twitter account
• Social media hashtag: FreeBen

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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In July 2020, Jamshid Sharmahd was kidnapped in Dubai by agents of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and taken to Iran where he is being held today. Jamshid is a German citizen and US resident who has lived in California for over 17 years. His life is in imminent danger as he may be sentenced to death and executed any day now. 

On this episode, we have the honour of speaking to Gazelle Sharmahd, Jamshid’s daughter once again. She brings us up to speed with what has happened since we last spoke one year ago. We discuss the ongoing revolution in Iran and how this has affected Jamshid’s case.

Gazelle also tells us what the German and U.S. governments need to do better and how NGOs, journalists and the public can help.

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Jamshid Sharmahd, please check out the following:

• Our previous episode: Ep 20
• Free Jamshid Sharmahd website
• Free Jamshid Sharmahd petition
• Gazelle Sharmahd's Twitter account
• Free Jamshid Instagram account
• Social media hashtag: SaveSharmahd

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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American citizen, Kai Li from New York has been wrongfully imprisoned in China since September 2016. The U.S. government has classified Kai as being “wrongfully detained” and the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has called for Kai’s immediate release.

A few days ago, Kai’s father passed away in China as a result of the surge in COVID19 cases in the country. Chinese authorities have also imposed restrictions within its prisons due to the pandemic that have significantly affected Kai including his ability to communicate with the U.S. Embassy in China and his family.

Last year, we saw the Biden administration secure the release of dozens of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained around the world. Unfortunately, Americans wrongfully detained in China for years like Kai Li have yet to be freed.

On this episode, we speak once again to Kai’s son, Harrison Li to get an update on what has happened since we spoke to him nine months ago. Harrison talks about the death of his grandfather, his limited communications with his father, how he’s coping with this trauma while studying for his PhD as well as what the Chinese and U.S. governments need to do better. We end this episode discussing why Harrison and his family would like to have a meeting with President Biden as well as what journalists and the public can do to help bring Kai Li home.   

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Kai Li, please check out the following:

• Our previous episode(s): Ep 7, Ep 33
• Free Kai Li website
• Free Kai Li petition
• Free Kai Li Twitter account
• Social media hashtag: FreeKaiLi 

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

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British citizen, Peter Humphrey used to be a fraud investigator and a journalist based in China. Peter and his wife who is an American citizen co-founded the company, ChinaWhys which was a risk-advisory firm based in Shanghai. In July 2013, both Peter and his wife were arrested by Chinese authorities. Their teenage son and only child was separated from both his parents. China is notorious for carrying out wrongful detentions especially when it comes to foreign nationals. 

Both Peter and his wife were released almost two years later. Peter was released before his sentence ended due to poor health. Peter was sadly diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. Denial of medical care by Chinese authorities during his imprisonment made his condition worse.

Peter and his wife now live in England. Since his release, Peter has been mentoring the families with loved ones wrongfully imprisoned in China. On this episode, we have the honour of speaking to Peter himself.

Using his experience as a journalist, Peter walks us through his imprisonment in China step by step in this detailed 3.5 hour interview. He talks about how he found the strength to keep on going and how he’s coping now with his post-traumatic stress. We also discuss what the Chinese and British governments should do better. We end our interview discussing what international businesses, journalists and the public can do to help make sure this does not happen again.

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Peter Humphrey, please check out the following:

• Peter Humphrey's LinkedIn page

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

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On 8th December 2022, American citizen and WNBA athlete Brittney Griner was freed in a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia. Unfortunately, American citizen and Marine veteran Paul Whelan also held in Russia was left behind – again. The U.S. State Department classified both Brittney and Paul as “wrongfully detained”. Next week will mark four years since Paul was arrested and wrongfully imprisoned in Russia.

On this episode, we speak again to Paul’s sister, Elizabeth Whelan to find out what it was like for Paul and the Whelan family to be left behind again. We also discuss the U.S. politicians who only started to mention Paul’s name publicly after Brittney Griner’s release for the purpose of criticising the Biden administration and how this division within U.S. domestic politics plays into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In addition to being a U.S. citizen, Paul Whelan is also a citizen of Great Britain, Canada and Ireland. We discuss with Elizabeth Whelan what the Russian, American, British, Canadian and Irish governments should do as well as what journalists and the public can do to help bring Paul Whelan home.

If you prefer, you can watch the video version of this interview on YouTube. 

For more information on Paul Whelan, please check out the following:

• Our previous episodes: Ep 4, Ep 21, Ep 35, Ep 39
• Free Paul Whelan website
• Free Paul Whelan Go Fund Me
• Free Paul Whelan Twitter account
• Social media hashtag: FreePaulWhelan

Get the latest updates on hostage cases we at Pod Hostage Diplomacy are working on including new episodes by subscribing to our fortnightly newsletter, the Hostage Briefing. Subscribe here.

You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Support the show