Category: News & Media

Almost a month has passed since the government of Iran sentenced U.S. Legal Permanent Resident Nizar Zakka to 10 years in captivity and fined millions of dollars. Mr. Zakka was unlawfully detained by Iranian officials in September 2015 in Tehran and has since been held hostage by the Iranian regime. In addition to the denial of due process, Mr. Zakka has yet to receive necessary medical attention as his health has rapidly declined and becomes more critical. 

Mr. Zakka’s U.S. attorney, Jason I. Poblete, has released the following statement urging the United States government and other responsible parties to take immediate action to secure his unconditional release on humanitarian grounds.

 

 

Prior Statements and Related Information:

• 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 October 12, Florida Senator Marco Rubio wrote a letter to President Obama pressing his administration to seek just compensation for Americans whose properties were illegally confiscated by the Castro regime in Cuba over 50 years ago. There are currently 5,913 certified claims against the government of Cuba, valued at more than $8 billion which remain unresolved. 

Senator Rubio writes, “It is disappointing that you have not placed a higher priority on preventing the trafficking of property and obtaining compensation for the property stolen from Americans.”

He goes on to discuss the claims in greater detail stating, “I understand there are more than 5,900 certified claims valued at more than $8 billion owed to Americans who had property confiscated by the Castro regime.  It is important to focus on the entirety of the Cuban government’s massive confiscation and ridiculous efforts by the Castro regime to manufacture counter claims against the U.S. government to avoid making Americans whole again.

I am concerned that your efforts to loosen the restrictions on travel to Cuba results in the trafficking—by Americans—of stolen property taken from other Americans, including hotels, cruise terminals, and even the art in Havana’s major museums.  It also includes stolen trademarks, such as rum and cigar brands, that American travelers may be purchasing in violation of the express prohibition in U.S. law against transactions involving confiscated property.  It is unclear how allowing the production of movies and television shows and the playing of a Major League Baseball exhibition game in Cuba will not increase the number of Americans trafficking in property stolen from Americans.”

The press release issued by Senator Rubio can be found here, and the entire letter can be read below.

Last week, Mr. Nizar Zakka, a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident, was sentenced to 10 years in captivity and fined millions of dollars by the Iranian regime. Mr. Zakka was unlawfully detained by Iranian officials in September 2015 in Tehran and has since been held hostage by the Iranian regime. Mr. Zakka’s U.S. attorney, Mr. Jason Poblete, issued the following statement urging the United States to press the Iranians for the unconditional release of Mr. Zakka on humanitarian grounds.

 

 

For more information on the circumstances of Mr. Zakka’s arrest, please visit the Friends of Nizar Zakka website.

On September 21, the House of Representatives approved passage H.R. 5708, the Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017 that, if it becomes law, will prohibit loans to the government of Nicaragua by international financial institutions unless Nicaragua takes steps to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections as well as the rule of law.

In an interview with Nicaragua’s leading newspaper, La Prensa, PobleteTamargo attorney Jason Poblete said that the NICA law could also lead to economic sanctions being imposed on Nicaraguan officials who violate human rights or ignore the rule of law.

The Congress is requesting that executive branch agencies “investigate what is happening in Nicaragua [and] if there are violations of human rights, exclude all those involved in corruption (in Nicaragua) of privileges granted by the United States,” such as visas or, eventually, access to the U.S. financial system Poblete said.

A companion measure was introduced in the Senate earlier this month, S.3284.

The entire article is available at the La Prensa website. 

On Thursday, September 22, Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, offered an amendment during the Floor debate of on  H.R. 5931 – Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act. The measure, which passed in the House, included an amendment by Rep. Pompeo that prohibit ransom payments to any nation and sanctions Iranians responsible for holding U.S. nationals, including citizens as well as U.S. Legal Permanent Residents. 

In his remarks, Rep. Pompeo discussed the unlawful detention of Mr. Nizar Zakka, a U.S. Legal Permanent Resident and internet freedom advocate who was sentenced earlier this week to 10 years prison –  a hostage of the Iranian regime (see video embedded below).

Mr. Zakka was kidnapped after traveling to Tehran for a conference at the invitation of the Iranian government to discuss women’s empowerment and the Internet.

Rep. Pompeo released the following statement after the bill was approved by the House of Representatives: 

“Although the American people consider prohibitions on ransom payments to be U.S. policy, given the administration’s recent actions, we have to make this prohibition explicit.”

“Ransom payments put a price on the head of every American traveling abroad.  This bill prohibits the United States government from making a payment to secure the release of unjustly detained U.S. nationals or lawful residents.  Our constituents have told us this is an unacceptable use of their taxpayer dollars, and we are acting.”

More information on the detention and unjust verdict handed down against Mr. Zakka, please read more here.

See Congressman Pompeo’s remarks below;