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 Zakka
• UPDATE 5- The Continued Unlawful Detention of Nizar Zakka
• US LPR Zakka Meets With Iranian Prosecutor, Lebanese Ambassador to Tehran
• UPDATE 4-Statement on the Continued Unlawful Detention of Internet Freedom Advocate Nizar Zakka
• UPDATE 3- Zakka Starts Hunger Strike, Demands Unconditional Release
• UPDATE 2- Nizar Zakka Celebrates 2nd Birthday as a Hostage in Iran
• UPDATE 1- The Continued Unlawful Detention of Nizar Zakka, Unconditional Release on Humanitarian Grounds Urged
• The Continued Unlawful Detention of Nizar Zakka, Unconditional Release on Humanitarian Grounds Urged

“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.”

Prior Statements and Releases

• UPDATE 5- The Continued Unlawful Detention of Nizar Zakka
• US LPR Zakka Meets With Iranian Prosecutor, Lebanese Ambassador to Tehran
• UPDATE 4-Statement on the Continued Unlawful Detention of Internet Freedom Advocate Nizar Zakka
• UPDATE 3- Zakka Starts Hunger Strike, Demands Unconditional Release
• UPDATE 2- Nizar Zakka Celebrates 2nd Birthday as a Hostage in Iran
• UPDATE 1- The Continued Unlawful Detention of Nizar Zakka, Unconditional Release on Humanitarian Grounds Urged
• The Continued Unlawful Detention of Nizar Zakka, Unconditional Release on Humanitarian Grounds Urged
• U.S. Congress Approves Measure Banning Ransom Payments for US Hostages Held in Iran
• U.S. Legal Permanent Resident/ICT Professional Sentenced by the Iranian Regime to 10 Years in Evin Prison, Fined Millions
• U.S. LPR/ICT Professional Held Hostage for a Year by Iran
• Amnesty International: Jailed IT Expert Denied Medical Care
• Is Iran Raising The Stakes For Releasing American Hostages?

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.

 

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

Mar 9, 2017

“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.

“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.

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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.”

Mr. Zakka’s lawyer in the United States, Mr. Jason Poblete, says any reports alleging that Mr. Zakka confessed are “absolutely false.” “This is just another ploy by a segment of the Iranian government designed to distract from the ongoing hostage crisis,” Poblete added.

“On behalf of Nizar, and all other U.S. hostages and westerners, we urge the Trump Administration and the Congress to do everything possible to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Nizar and all other U.S. and westerners unjustly detained in Iran,” Poblete concluded.

 

The Associated Press article published by ABC News can be found here. 

Prior Statements and Releases

• US LPR Zakka Meets With Iranian Prosecutor, Lebanese Ambassador to Tehran
• UPDATE 4-Statement on the Continued Unlawful Detention of Internet Freedom Advocate Nizar Zakka
• UPDATE 3- Zakka Starts Hunger Strike, Demands Unconditional Release
• UPDATE 2- Nizar Zakka Celebrates 2nd Birthday as a Hostage in Iran
• UPDATE 1- The Continued Unlawful Detention of Nizar Zakka, Unconditional Release on Humanitarian Grounds Urged
• The Continued Unlawful Detention of Nizar Zakka, Unconditional Release on Humanitarian Grounds Urged
• U.S. Congress Approves Measure Banning Ransom Payments for US Hostages Held in Iran
• U.S. Legal Permanent Resident/ICT Professional Sentenced by the Iranian Regime to 10 Years in Evin Prison, Fined Millions
• U.S. LPR/ICT Professional Held Hostage for a Year by Iran
• Amnesty International: Jailed IT Expert Denied Medical Care
• Is Iran Raising The Stakes For Releasing American Hostages?

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 can be found at Al-Nahar by following this link.