U.S. Secretary of State: Kidnapping is a Violation of Fundamental Human Rights

The U.S. Secretary of State, in a meeting titled "Diplomacy, Kidnapping, and Threats to International Security" at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, emphasized the importance of collective efforts to free citizens kidnapped in other countries alongside his Canadian counterpart. Antony Blinken stressed that the United States will continue to work for the release of any American unjustly detained, as well as for the release of Hamas hostages. He described kidnapping as a violation of fundamental human rights and noted the signing of an executive order based on the "Robert Levinson Act" this past July, stating that the U.S. President considers kidnapping a threat to national security. Blinken called kidnapping a crisis and urged collective efforts for deterrence in this regard. He mentioned that an international network for deterrence against kidnapping has now been formed, adding that countries that engage in kidnapping effectively isolate themselves and become pariah states that no one wants to visit. He referred to Siamak Namazi, who was also present at the meeting, stating that he was the longest-held hostage in Iran and experienced the worst humanitarian conditions in prison, but outside of prison, he was reminded of the best aspects of humanity, and everyone worked to ensure he was not forgotten, ultimately allowing him to return to his country and loved ones. Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly also stated that countries cannot use the kidnapping of citizens as bargaining chips. Echoing Blinken's remarks, she called arbitrary detention a violation of human rights and noted that such experiences leave irreparable scars, urging the audience to encourage Siamak Namazi. This Iranian-American businessman was arrested by the Iranian security forces on October 13, 2015. His father, Baqer Namazi, was also arrested on March 1 of the same year upon entering Iran to visit his son. Siamak and Baqer Namazi were sentenced to ten years in prison on October 19, 2016, on charges including collaboration with a foreign government. Baqer Namazi, who was 79 at the time of his arrest, was granted permission to leave Iran at the age of 85 after six and a half years in prison. Siamak, now 52 years old, has spent more time in prison than any other Iranian-American and was among the five American prisoners recently released from Iranian custody. The Canadian Foreign Minister described the arbitrary detention of citizens as a threat to international security and peace, stating that it undermines the foundations of the international order and serves as a tool for transnational repression. She emphasized that hostage diplomacy should not become a common practice. Canada launched a coalition in 2021 to combat the arbitrary detention of foreign nationals for political reasons after the arrest of two of its citizens in China. Joly stated that 75 countries have joined this coalition. She said, "Together we send a strong message that this practice will not be tolerated, and citizens cannot be drawn into a geopolitical game." Many political experts believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran uses baseless accusations to detain foreign citizens, especially dual nationals, and uses them as political bargaining tools, effectively taking them hostage. In one of the latest cases, following the release of six billion dollars of Iran's blocked funds in South Korea and its transfer to Qatar, the Islamic Republic released five Iranian-American dual nationals from prison. Speculation about a possible 'deal' for the release of hostages continues; Israel and the U.S. are reviewing Hamas's response. Young Swedish parents detained by the Islamic Republic have called for their child's release, even at the cost of an exchange for Hamid Noury. An Iranian professor at the University of Chicago told Voice of America: 'In Iran, government agents threatened me with death.' Several families of Hamas victims are demanding approximately one billion dollars in compensation from Tehran. The U.S. State Department condemned the Islamic Republic's 'ruthless and ongoing' use of kidnapping.