Vice President of the World Information Technology Alliance 'Has Disappeared' in Tehran

The Lebanese newspaper 'Al-Liwaa' reported on Thursday, November 7, that Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese businessman and Vice President of the 'World Information Technology Alliance' (WITSA) and Secretary-General of the 'Arab Organization for Information and Communication Technology' (AJOICT), has been arrested in Iran 'for unknown reasons.' Earlier reports indicated that this Lebanese citizen residing in the United States had gone missing in Iran. According to 'Al-Liwaa', Zakka was arrested during a trip to Tehran at the invitation of the Iranian government to attend a conference. Based on the report, Zakka's family is seeking to issue a statement or hold a press conference to inform the public about the 'arrest of their son' in Iran. Previously, Antoine Abou Dib, the lawyer for the 'Arab Organization for Information and Communication Technology', announced that Zakka received an invitation from Shahindokht Molaverdi, the Iranian Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, on September 20 to participate in the 'Second International Exhibition and Conference on Women's Role in Sustainable Development' focused on 'Entrepreneurship and Job Creation.' The announcement states that Zakka traveled to Iran on September 24 and participated in all the programs and panels of the conference, where he was also one of the main speakers. After the conference ended on September 27, Zakka left his hotel and took a taxi to the airport, but available information indicates that he did not reach the airport and did not board a plane, and there is still no news about him. Mr. Antoine Abou Dib wrote: 'We informed the Lebanese embassy in Tehran that Mr. Zakka is missing. We requested assistance from the Lebanese government to find him. Several requests have also been submitted to the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but these efforts have been futile. Therefore, we respectfully ask the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Lebanese embassy in Tehran, and Iranian officials to assist in finding Mr. Zakka, ensuring his safety, and facilitating his return to his country.' At the conference where Zakka was a speaker, in addition to Ms. Shahindokht Molaverdi, Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Minister of Agriculture Mahmoud Hojjati, and Minister of Labor, Welfare, and Social Affairs Ali Rabiei were also present. The newspaper 'Al-Liwaa' described Zakka as a pioneer in the information and communication technology industry in the region and the world. The 'World Information Technology Alliance' (WITSA), which Zakka chairs, represents about 90% of the global information and communication technology industry, and 80 leading national associations in this industry are its members. The 'Arab Organization for Information and Communication Technology' (AJOICT), of which Zakka is the Secretary-General, is a regional organization with 14 Arab countries as members. This was not Zakka's first trip to Iran. Since 2010, when he participated in the 16th International Elecomp Exhibition, he has been in contact with Iranian scientific communities. In September 2014, he also actively collaborated with the 'Persian-speaking Information and Communication Technology Week' conference. In March 2015, he was a member of the jury for the 'Innovative Challenge Award' held in the field of information technology. In May 2013, the hardline newspaper 'Vatan-e Emruz' introduced Zakka as one of the founders of the 'International Association of Iranian Managers', claiming he participated in a security project named 'Bridge', which the report alleged was a cover for American infiltration into Iran's political and executive structures. Iranian and Lebanese officials have not yet commented on the news regarding Zakka's 'disappearance' or 'arrest' in Iran.