France will file a case at the World Court on Friday against Iran for violating the right to consular protection. The purpose is to pressure #Iran over the detention of two French citizens, Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, held captive for 3 years. www.reuters.com/world/france...

Australians will go to the polls on 3 May 2025 to vote for their next government. Who will become the next Australian Prime Minister? Who will bring home Australian citizen Robert Pether who has been wrongfully imprisoned in #Iraq since 7 April 2021? #FreeRobertPether

Today marks 4 years since Australian citizen and Irish resident, Robert Pether has been wrongfully imprisoned in Iraq. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has called for his immediate release. The Australian Gov must #FreeRobertPether now. www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-n...

The American children of a British couple, Peter and Barbie Reynolds held captive by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime appealed Wednesday to President Trump in a video, asking for his help in securing their release. www.cbsnews.com/news/america...

Faye Hall, a US citizen detained in #Afghanistan in February by the Taliban administration has been released. Hall was arrested together with a British couple, Barbie and Peter Reynolds. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

George Glezmann, an American citizen who has spent more than two years in detention in Afghanistan was released on Thursday, and is now on his way to the United States, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/03/...

French citizen, Olivier Grondeau who was held hostage in #Iran for 887 days has been freed and is now back home. Sadly, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris were left behind. I’m so happy for Olivier and his family and hope Cecile and Jacques are freed soon too.

“As the battle continues to secure Mr Pether's release, his family now say they will have to sell their home, due to mounting legals bills, estimated to be in the region of €120,000.” #FreeRobertPether www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture has released a report on hostage-taking as a form or torture. I had the privilege of making a submission on this topic to the Special Rapporteur which she has cited in her report. www.ohchr.org/en/documents...

Two British pensioners, Peter Reynolds (79) and his wife, Barbie (75) being held in Afghanistan since last month have been moved to a maximum-security prison and separated by the Taliban. Their daughter, Sarah Entwistle called it a "shocking escalation" www.thetimes.com/world/asia/a...

Watch the story of how the United States government secured the release of 7 Americans wrongfully detained in Venezuela on 1 October 2022. takenoprisoners.media

Safeguard Defenders has released its new handbook ‘Missing in China’ today in response to the growing number of foreign citizens arbitrarily detained in the authoritarian country. safeguarddefenders.com/en/blog/miss...

Dutch citizen, Cees Ljunberg who worked as a tour guide in #Iran has been released from Tehran’s Evin Prison after serving five years of a 10-year sentence, in what appears to be a prisoner swap between both countries. iranwire.com/en/news/1393...

The Taliban said it will endeavour to release two British nationals, Peter Reynolds, 79 and wife, Barbie, 75 who have been detained in Afghanistan "as soon as possible". An American national and an Afghan were also arrested alongside the couple. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A British couple Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie, 75 have been arrested by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Since 2009 they have been running training projects in five schools in Kabul and one project in Bamiyan training mothers and children. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Dear UK journalists, There are currently 4 British citizens held hostage in #Iran: (1) Craig Foreman (2) Lindsay Foreman (3) Mehran Raoof (4) Nasrin Roshan I hope our government brings all 4 of them home. www.iranintl.com/en/202406022...

UK-based lawyers for Hong Kong activist, Jimmy Lai have spoken out about being targeted by the Chinese state and its supporters in a campaign of intimidation including surveillance, hacking of bank accounts and rape threats. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

"Yes, we're aware of the risks," she wrote. "But we also know the rewards of meeting incredible people, hearing their stories, and seeing the breathtaking landscapes of these regions could far outweigh the fear." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

British couple held in #Iran named as Craig and Lindsay Foreman. The couple, in their early 50s, who were on a trip across the world on motorbikes, were arrested in January. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

American Ryan Corbett held in Afghanistan has been freed! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

NGO worker Alberto Trentini, 45, was arrested in Venezuela in November but no formal charges have been pressed against him, his family has said, urging Rome's government to maximise efforts for his release. #FreeAlbertoTrentini www.reuters.com/world/italy-...

Italian aid worker arrested in Venezuela, no news of Alberto Trentini for two months #FreeAlbertoTrentini www.unionesarda.it/en/world/aid...

Please sign this petition calling on French President Emmanuel Macron and Iranian President Massoud Pezechkian to free the following 3 French citizens held hostage in Iran: (1) Cécile Kohler (2) Jacques Paris (3) Olivier Grondeau www.change.org/p/pour-la-li...

Nahid Taghavi is free!!!!! German citizen Nahid Taghavi who was held hostage in #Iran since 16 October 2020 is now free and back home in Germany!!! I am so happy for Nahid and her daughter, Mariam Claren who is one of the best and most resilient campaigners I’ve ever seen. I am so happy 😃

Here’s Italy most likely making a concession to #Iran for the release of Italian journalist, Cecilia Sala #HostageDiplomacy www.france24.com/en/europe/20...

Announcement of US Department of State Strategy Countering Wrongful Detentions www.state.gov/announcement...

“The kidnapping, torture and ransoming of American citizens was part of a continuous and systematic scheme to coerce the United States government into policy concessions, the end of an oil embargo, and prisoner swaps” #MatthewHeath #OsmanKhan apnews.com/article/amer...

Italy’s record on freeing their citizens held hostage in #Iran: Cecilia Sala - 21 days Alessia Piperno - 45 days It’s time other countries learn from the Italians how to deal with hostage diplomacy. www.bbc.com/news/article...

“Saudi Arabia has forced a Florida retiree to try to renounce his American citizenship after jailing him over social media posts critical of the kingdom’s crown prince, according to the man’s son.” #FreeSaadAlmadi apnews.com/article/saud...

No family should have to go through the painful experience of a loved one being arbitrarily detained abroad, yet British citizen Ahmed Al-Doush has been in prolonged detention in Saudi Arabia without reason or charge causing him to miss his child’s birth. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Calls made by hostages held in Iran’s Evin Prison are monitored. In many cases, the interrogator may be standing right next to the hostage forcing them to tell their family on a phone call that they are “fine”. #FreeCeciliaSala www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

More details on Italian journalist, Cecilia Sala held hostage in #Iran - from her employer, Chora Media #FreeCeciliaSala

"I'm with you, sitting on the floor in that white-walled cell. I am with you ♥️" _ Alessia Piperno, Italian digital nomad and former hostage in #Iran to Cecilia Sala, Italian journalist held hostage in Iran. #FreeCeciliaSala

The Iranian regime has arrested an Italian journalist, Cecilia Sala. The regime has a long track record of hostage diplomacy and wrongful detentions. #FreeCeciliaSala now www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Free Austin Tice, American held hostage in Syria since 2012

I’m sorry to see President-Elect Trump replace Ambassador Roger Carstens as US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. He did amazing work and helped save many lives. His work inspired the hostage community in other countries to call on their governments to implement similar SPEHA roles.

The Australian Parliament’s Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee has now published their report on the wrongful detention of Australian citizens overseas. My submission on hostage diplomacy is cited multiple times in this report. www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentar...

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said he plans to appoint an envoy to deal with “complex detention cases” involving Britons abroad and give them a legal right to consular access. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Fantastic news!!! The United States has secured the release of 3 Americans wrongfully imprisoned in China for years: Kai Li, Mark Swidan and John Leung. I had the honour of interviewing Kai’s son, Harrison Li multiple times on my Pod Hostage Diplomacy podcast. edition.cnn.com/2024/11/27/p...

French teacher and unionist, Cécile Kohler has been held hostage in #Iran since 7 May 2022. The French Gov has called her a state hostage. An Iranian judiciary spokesperson said on 5 Nov her trial starts tomorrow. Call on the French to #FreeCecile now. www.podhostagediplomacy.com/free-cecile-...

An Iranian judiciary spokesperson said on 5 November that the trial of Cécile Kohler, a French citizen held hostage in #Iran since 7 May 2022 starts tomorrow. We previously interviewed her sister, Noemie Kohler. Below is a clip from our interview. #FreeCecile youtube.com/shorts/pKd4L...

Pod Hostage Diplomacy works to free hostages and the unjustly detained around the world. Together with their families, we share their stories and let you know how you can help bring them home. www.podhostagediplomacy.com Watch our video below to learn who we are and what we do: youtu.be/bQj_ux9hL18

Call for input issued by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. Deadline 16 December 2024. Hostage-Taking as Torture: Legal frameworks, supporting victims and families, and strengthening global responses www.ohchr.org/en/calls-for...