UN Special Rapporteur Calls for Immediate Release of 'All Hostages Worldwide'

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture warned about the increasing trend of hostage-taking by both governments and non-state actors. On Tuesday, March 14, Alice Jill Edwards emphasized that hostages have become a bargaining tool in international relations. In a report presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Edwards highlighted the 'inhumane nature of hostage-taking,' noting that this process is almost always accompanied by the torture of hostages. The UN Special Rapporteur reminded that as a result of hostage-taking, not only the hostages themselves but also their families suffer both physically and psychologically. Edwards urged the international community to take immediate action to end this 'inhumane' practice, hold hostage-takers accountable, facilitate the immediate release of hostages, and support victims and their families. The UN Special Rapporteur concluded that the number and geographical spread of state-sponsored hostage-taking by a few governments is increasing; countries that, according to the findings of this report, detain foreign or dual citizens based on fabricated or exaggerated charges for the purpose of using them as diplomatic bargaining chips. In her report, Edwards referred to governments such as China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela, and even the United Arab Emirates as examples of countries engaging in politically motivated hostage-taking. The detention of journalists or even foreign tourists and dual citizens in the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been a controversial issue and has led to widespread international reactions. Many of these individuals face charges such as 'espionage,' 'illegal activities,' or 'collaboration with opposition groups,' and in some cases, including the well-known case of Jason Rezaian, the Islamic Republic has used them as 'hostages' in its diplomacy. The latest case is that of Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist and former Radio Farda reporter, who resigned from this media outlet in November 2022 and returned to Iran on March 7, 2023, to visit his family after a period of residence abroad. Valizadeh was sentenced to 10 years in prison and is currently held in Evin prison. The UN Special Rapporteur also pointed to the continued hostage-taking by militant and terrorist groups, citing the group 'Boko Haram' in Nigeria as an example. She also reminded of the actions of the extremist group Hamas and other militant groups that violently took around 250 predominantly civilian hostages during the attack in mid-October 2023 in southern Israel. Over the past six weeks, during the first phase of a ceasefire achieved through international mediation, Hamas, which is recognized as a terrorist group by the US and the EU, exchanged several hostages or the bodies of hostages who died during captivity for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. It is expected that in the second phase of the ceasefire, nearly 30 more Israeli hostages will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. Edwards noted in her report that hostage victims generally suffer from the physiological effects and consequences of this incident, endure physical abuse and long-term solitary confinement, sometimes face starvation, are subjected to mock executions, and experience sexual abuse. This Australian lawyer emphasized that even after their release, hostages must grapple with consequences that will accompany them for the rest of their lives. According to the UN Special Rapporteur, what is particularly tragic is the deliberate mistreatment of hostages as part of a strategy to gain more concessions; a matter that Edwards described as 'unconscionable.' She stressed that hostage-taking cannot be allowed to become an acceptable tool in diplomacy or war. The UN Special Rapporteur has called on governments to appoint high-ranking officials to maintain ongoing contact with the families of hostages and inform them of the actions being taken for the release of their loved ones. Edwards has also requested that the UN Secretary-General appoint a special representative on hostage-taking to advocate for the rights of hostages at the international level.