Nizar Zaka Ends Hunger Strike in Prison

The lawyer of Nizar Zaka, a Lebanese citizen with U.S. residency who is imprisoned in Iran, announced on Sunday, July 30, that his client has ended his 33-day hunger strike. Nizar Zaka, a 50-year-old Lebanese citizen, has been in prison since September 2015. He was sentenced to ten years in prison and fined $4.2 million on charges of 'espionage and collaboration with a hostile government.' Jason Poblete, Zaka's lawyer in the U.S., had previously stated on July 20 that Zaka was 'very ill, not eating, and even refusing medical care, including IV fluids. He has become very weak and is not well.' However, on Sunday, Majid Damashqieh, another lawyer for Zaka, told the Associated Press that his client ended his long hunger strike due to the requests of his children. Nizar Zaka, an expert in information and communication technology, has spoken about the power of the internet and information during various trips to Middle Eastern and North African countries. He traveled to Tehran on September 15, 2015, at the invitation of the Iranian government to participate in an entrepreneurship conference, which was his fifth trip to Tehran. Zaka had received an invitation to attend the 'Second International Exhibition and Conference on Women's Role in Sustainable Development' with a focus on 'Entrepreneurship and Job Creation.' He attended all the programs and panels of the conference and was one of the main speakers until he disappeared shortly thereafter. Two weeks after his disappearance, Iranian state radio and television reported that he had been arrested on charges of 'close communications' with U.S. intelligence services and was being held in Iran. In this context, Habibollah Sayyari, deputy of the IRGC intelligence, rejected Zaka's innocence on March 23, stating that he had 'confessed' after his arrest that his special mission was to 'pursue a targeted deviation in the area of women and family' in the country, an accusation Zaka denies. However, Jason Poblete, Zaka's lawyer, stated in an interview that 'he insists he is innocent and has not done any of the things the Iranians claim. He says he has a reputation he is not willing to lose under pressure for confessions. He has said it is either freedom or death, and that is his only option.' According to Zaka's lawyer, various governments are pursuing his release from prison. The U.S. House of Representatives also issued a resolution this week calling for Zaka's release. Zaka's son has also sent a letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani requesting his father's freedom. Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, noted on Wednesday that Iran uses the imprisonment of American citizens on baseless charges as leverage for ransom or to facilitate sanctions, but this action by Iran violates the 'International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages.' U.S. President Donald Trump has also warned Iran that it will face serious and new consequences if it does not release American citizens imprisoned in the country.