Mike Pompeo Demands Immediate Release of Dual Citizens Imprisoned in Iran
Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, called in a tweet for the immediate release of Siamak Namazi, his father Baquer Namazi, and Morad Tahbaz, an environmental activist.
Mr. Pompeo wrote in the tweet: “Siamak Namazi, a U.S. citizen, celebrated his 49th birthday in the dreaded Evin Prison. Yesterday marked 1,800 days since the Iranian regime detained him on false charges.”
The U.S. Secretary of State continued: “Baquer [Namazi], Siamak’s [Namazi’s] father, as well as Morad Tahbaz are innocent victims. Iran must release them immediately.”
Siamak Namazi, an Iranian-American citizen and an executive at an oil trading company, was arrested in Iran in September 2015 on charges of espionage and “cooperation with the U.S. government” and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Muhammad Baquer Namazi, Siamak Namazi’s 84-year-old father, who traveled to Iran to follow up on his son’s case, was also arrested in March 2016 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Muhammad Baquer Namazi served as governor of Khuzestan during Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi’s rule and later worked as a UNICEF representative.
Siamak Namazi, in a letter to the head of the judiciary in June of this year, emphasized his innocence and requested a review of his case. In this letter, Mr. Namazi stated that he was confined to a room for one year before trial and was only able to meet with his lawyer once for 20 minutes, and afterward was denied the opportunity to speak and consult with his lawyer in court.
Morad Tahbaz, an Iranian environmental activist, holds American and British citizenship and has also been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Islamic Republic.
Mr. Tahbaz was arrested in January 2018 along with several other environmental activists, and the Islamic Republic’s security and judicial authorities accused them of “espionage.”
The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned the unjustified and arbitrary detention of American citizens and citizens of other countries, including dual-national Iranians, by the Islamic Republic regime and has called for their immediate and unconditional release.
Western analysts have repeatedly stated that the Islamic Republic uses dual-national individuals as hostages to extract money and concessions from Western governments.
Source: Voice of America
